The first graduates of Jersey’s ground-breaking Digital Leadership Programme have received their certificates after two years of learning.
In a ceremony at Mont Orgueil Castle, attended by Education Minister, Deputy Scott Wickenden, the graduates were awarded their degree equivalent qualifications.
The course was developed with employers, to teach world-class practical digital skills to both full time and part-time students at the Digital Jersey Academy.
Students learn business and leadership, digital marketing, media, design, public relations, cyber-security, and technology modules, all taught by industry experts who have worked in their sectors.
School leavers are able to study full time on-island and earn not only the DLP level 6 qualification, but also equivalent level certificates from the Chartered Institute of Marketing for a digital marketing diploma and a Chartered Institute of Management diploma. Part-time students attend the Academy one evening a week, with a monthly weekend session, and extensive self-study. They have the opportunity to receive the DLP qualification, and the digital marketing diploma.
Speaking at the ceremony was Tony Moretta, CEO, Digital Jersey who thanked the graduates for their commitment and future input into the Island: “I was immensely pleased to see the first graduates of the Digital Leadership Programme, who have completed an intense two years’ of study on-island, that has not only equipped them personally for our modern workplace but is enriching Jersey’s skills base.
“They are taking a range of practical real-world digital knowledge into new jobs locally, back to companies they already work in, as well as in some cases, forging entrepreneurial ideas to create businesses of their own.”
The students started their study in September 2019 and the Academy has recently welcomed its third cohort of students on the DL programme. Despite the pandemic forcing face-to-face learning to be cancelled from only the second term, the course continued via online lectures until students could return to the classroom.
Rory Steel, Head of the Digital Jersey Academy, said: Digital Jersey, with support from the Government of Jersey created the Digital Jersey Academy as a direct answer to the digital skills shortage on-island. The graduates should all be commended on not only being the first to achieve the Digital Leadership qualification, but by having the vision to realise how valuable their new skills are to our Island’s economy and their careers. This is the only the beginning of a
local focus on digital skills.”
Anyone interested in finding out more about the courses on offer at the Digital Jersey Academy can find more information here.
