CW's digital skills programme for young people

About CW Techsters

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CW Techsters is a digital skills programme THAT empowers A DIVERSE generation of ICT Talent

The tech sector is a significant contributor to the UK's economy and touches on all industries. A stable pipeline of talent is crucial for its continued success. There is an urgent need for large numbers of technical staff, and diversity and inclusion must underpin the training and education system.

CW and Huawei aspire to close the digital divide by providing young talent with opportunities to learn about advanced technologies and apply their learning in practical, problem-solving events.

CW Techsters, created and led by Patricia Chan, Head of Business Development for CW, is a digital skills programme designed to promote digital inclusion and diversity, attracting and empowering young people (aged 16-22) with the skills to thrive in the digital economy and champion economic, social and environmental change. It enhances knowledge across five key tech areas outlined below, and increases awareness of career options within the sector.

The course leaders are inspirational industry leaders who share their knowledge and expertise of these emerging technologies, delivered through online, open learning.

The programme consists of three stages:

Online learning - 5 free digital skills sessions leading to certifications
5G bootcamp - an interactive deeper dive into the technological building blocks of 5G and its anticipated impact on the world, delivered over 1 day
An ideation workshop - supported by mentors to create solutions to a real-world sustainability challenge

If you are an organisation wanting to support the programme, please get in touch with Patricia Chan to find out more.

THE five topics of CW Techsters:

Coding

Learn how to control the digital world and bend it to your will. Get to grips with coding!

IoT

Connecting thousands of sensors in real-time gives us an amazing insight into the way our world works. What technologies underpin the IoT?

Sustainability

It has never been clearer that all future development must be sustainable, and technologies are needed to fix mistakes that have already been made. What options are there?

AI

Helping machines make an impact. Computers can process vast volumes of data, make decisions and even learn. But how?

5G

The latest wireless technology that may feel like a faster 4G for your phone, but will transform industry. What's it all about?

The CW Techsters 5G Bootcamp 2021

The CW Techsters Ideation Day 2021

Every moment was worth it and every second was a learning moment. I had fun, I learned a lot but most importantly it has allowed me to expand my insight into what technology really is about. Thank you so much CW Techsters for this amazing opportunity.

Yueyang Liu, CW Techsters Participant

It was truly a rewarding experience, being able to support and empower the young in their digital and sustainability learning journey. I’m honoured to have the opportunity to be part of this impactful programme and the contributions towards shaping the future leaders.

Michelle Law, ghd

Really enjoyed taking part in the CW Techsters workshop. It was great fun and really inspiring to work with such a talented group. Really enjoyed meeting the other mentors and everyone else who was involved. I would definitely like to get involved again.

Darendra Appanah, Cambridge Consultants

At CW, we recognise the need for greater diversity and inclusion in the technology sector. Together with our partners, we strive towards inspiring young talents to break down barriers when exploring new opportunities and celebrate their advancements in technology innovation and entrepreneurship.

Patricia Chan, Head of Business Development and Digital Skills Project Lead, CW

The UK can only achieve its ambition to be a digital leader and grow the economy post-pandemic if we draw on the widest pool of talent and ensure there are opportunities for young people to equip themselves for the imminent changes in the world of work and industry. We want people to understand that digital skills are for everyone – we need a new generation of digital talent and must remove the traditional barriers to accessing the ICT world

Victor Zhang, Vice-President, Huawei