The Digital Jersey Academy has been opened by the island’s Education Minister, as the first students prepare to begin learning at the state-of-the-art facility in St Helier.
Deputy Jeremy Maçon, Assistant Minister for Education performed the ribbon cutting, and Deputy Chief Minister/Economic Development Minister, Senator Lyndon Farnham opened the newly expanded and repurposed Digital Jersey Hub situated next door.
It marks a new chapter in the story of the island’s digital growth and success with a greater focus on skills development and training.
A major element of the Academy is the Digital Leadership Programme, a two-year course for those who’ve completed their A-Levels and are interested in a career within the tech sector, or for those already working and looking to expand their range of skills.
Rory Steel, Head of the Digital Jersey Academy, said: “As a teacher, I have always been very passionate about the need to continually improve all of Jersey’s digital literacy as a community. The opportunity to lead the island’s first centre of excellence for digital education to upskill, retrain or take those first steps into any technology-focused field is an exciting opportunity. This dedicated facility will open its doors both physically and virtually to all of the island no matter their starting point. This is one of the many steps Digital Jersey is taking to make Jersey a digital leader.”
30 students will take on the Digital Leadership Programme, some on a full-time basis and others choosing evening, weekend and online study options.
Daniel Rowles, who will run the course, said: “The Digital Leadership Programme has been built in partnership with industry, to deliver the skills that are in demand both in both Jersey and globally, and to prepare students for a fast-changing business environment. The programme combines studying topics around leadership, technology and creativity, as well as helping to develop a broad set of soft-skills like resilience and stakeholder management. Full time students also gain real-world experience by working on live projects from global brands, and leave with a set of industry approved qualifications and hands-on work experience.”
Digital Jersey CEO Tony Moretta said: “I am delighted that, with strong and enthusiastic support from Government, we are able to open the doors to the Digital Jersey Academy and welcome our first students. For them it’s the start of their own exciting journeys towards a digital career, and for the island’s growing tech ambitions it’s a tangible example of the work we’re doing to equip the students of today with the skills they will need in the workplace of tomorrow
