Kick-starting careers in IT consultancy
FDM Group is an international IT services provider and the UK's leading employer of IT graduates. The FDM Graduate Programme trains graduates to a professional level, in readiness for their careers as IT consultants. Once the training is complete, FDM consultants are placed on one or more client sites for a minimum of two years.
In 2011, FDM developed an MSc in Applied Computer Science in partnership with the University of Brighton and welcomed its first group of students onto the FDM Master Class Programme. This programme involves an extra year's commitment beyond the traditional FDM Graduate Programme.
Students on the FDM Master Class programme studying for the MSc in Applied Computer Science in partnership with the University of Brighton
MSc Programme Co-ordinator at FDM, Alex Linssen said: "We have learned a lot along the way. When we designed the course we had roughly equal input with the university and we have continued to collaborate ever since. One development is that students no longer have a fixed start date - they can join the three-year course at any point in the year."
FDM Consultants are selected for the qualification and offered the opportunity to undertake the MSc based on their skills and drive to achieve. FDM covers all tuition costs. Chosen candidates work full-time for FDM whilst studying part-time and working on a dissertation project, which is relevant to their placement.
Alex Linssen said: "As far as we know, our approach is unique. And we believe it improves our chances of attracting high-calibre graduates as they can further their careers as well as gaining practical skills. We are getting a high level of enquiries from new graduates as a result of this offer."
Chief Operating Officer at FDM and University of Brighton graduate, Sheila Flavell said: "This partnership is hugely exciting for both the university and FDM. We are passionate about training graduates to kick-start their careers as emerging IT Consultants."
Chief Executive Officer at FDM Rod Flavell said: "We truly believe in the dedication that the university has in developing the talents of their students. We have developed an MSc in Applied Computer Science in partnership with them, which is designed to broaden the qualifications of FDM staff."
