Nurturing Tomorrow’s Leaders
The year-long collaboration between HT Consulting (HTC) and HELP University to support the Work Based Learning (WBL) programme has produced remarkable results for BSc. of Information Technology students Yong Zhi Qing and Soo Yeung Chian, who joined our AI team for research and development in machine learning solutions in August 2023.
Being members of our AI team for research and development in machine learning solutions has not only enriched their skills but also highlighted the value of WBL programmes in fostering mutual growth between aspiring professionals and forward-thinking organisations.
Real-World Challenges and Rewards
For Zhi Qing and Yeung Chian, taking on the challenge of being WBL students while completing their Final Year was pivotal. Over the last 10 months, they switched between two roles: a working professional by day and a student by night.
The journey, although many times challenging, has proven to yield considerable changes in both their personal and professional selves. As WBL students, they have experienced the invaluable opportunity of leveraging their skills in situations that extend well beyond the confines of a traditional academic setting.
This transformative journey has not only equipped them with skills to excel in their future careers, but more importantly has set realistic expectations of their future professional responsibilities.
Hands-On Learning and Development
“As a member of the AI team, I am immersed in machine learning, specifically addressing the challenge of denoising bank cheque images. Each day presents new learning opportunities as I fine-tune algorithms and engage in hands-on training and evaluation.” Yeung Chian stated.
Equipped with knowledge in Python, Yeung Chian and Zhi Qing have found themselves contributing to developing machine learning algorithms, performing data preprocessing, and training models to solve AI-related challenges over the course of the year.
“Our weekly sessions on programming best practices and efficiency optimisation have further enriched this journey of growth and discovery.” Yeung Chian shared, in reference to the additional software development training and exposure provided by HTC.
Unlike university assignments focused on specific marking criteria, they now have deeper understanding in areas like C# and SQL to address concurrency issues in software development — skills which are highly crucial for real-world software development. They also found great satisfaction being able to directly apply concepts from their “Advanced Database Systems” course into work tasks.
“We have greatly benefited from Mr. Jimmy’s training on fundamental software development practices. His teachings have covered crucial concepts such as concurrency, efficiency, and the limitations encountered in real-world system development,” Zhi Qing shared.
Mutual Benefits for HTC and Students
As an organisation, it has been an equally enriching experience to on-board HELP’s WBL students into our AI team. It has created opportunities for exchange of fresh perspectives amongst members of varying experiences, therefore augmenting active learning experiences within the team.
“The culture of continuous learning at HTC is one that includes being open to diverse perspectives and working through them collectively,” Vanessa Tan, CEO of HTC said.
“Good work is seldom a one-way street. It is most of the time a result of bidirectional interaction.”
The on-boarding of WBL students has also created new opportunities for our junior team members to hone their leadership skills. With clear instructions and guidance set by senior team members, juniors can be assigned to peer-lead and reinforce their active learning experiences.
Our collaboration with HELP’s WBL programme has presented a catalyst for growth and development both for our team, as well as the future working professionals alike.
Preparing for Professional Success
Zhi Qing emphasizes the invaluable hands-on experience gained in real work environments, which developed practical skills directly applicable to her field. This immersion bridged the gap between theoretical knowledge and real-world application. Engaging in relevant tasks and projects honed her time management, communication, and teamwork skills — attributes highly sought after by employers.
Yeung Chian highlights the advantage of a year-long program over shorter internships. The extended duration allowed for deeper engagement with complex projects and a comprehensive understanding of AI and machine learning cycles. This extensive exposure to industry practices, tools, and technologies strengthened her theoretical foundation and equipped her with practical skills for future careers.
Both Zhi Qing and Yeung Chian agree that having work based learning experience will significantly enhance their resumes, making them more appealing candidates in the job market.
Rewards of Work Based Learning Programmes
HTC believes that Work Based Learning programmes are truly transformative in shaping the workforce of tomorrow. Zhi Qing and Yeung Chian’s story is a testament of the impact in advancing professional development and organizational achievements. It offers students hands-on training and opportunities to learn relevant industry skills which prepares students to be job-ready professionals.
At the same time, because employers value the real-world experience and practical knowledge that WBL students bring, this increases their chances of securing entry-level positions in the competitive Tech industry. Thus, Work Based Learning programmes are essential in preparing students for successful careers by providing them with the experience and skills needed to thrive in their chosen field.