"Back in September 2019 I received the good news of being selected for the BBC Step Into Tech course. Fast forward to June 2020, I have successfully completed the course thanks to the Annual Fund! Support from alumni financed this opportunity, which meant that I could complete this course with ease and without worry."
Mehnaz Ahmed, BSc Mathematics with Actuarial Science
"The course was split into two parts: technical and personal building. The technical sessions focused on learning the fundamentals of computer science. While the personal sessions were about building confidence and working in teams to create a support system. In order to complete the technical sessions, we were required to do 15 hours of self-study per week. This usually included doing extra reading and completing assignments before each session. The Annual Fund grant enabled me to pay for travel to attend the course at the Broadcast Centre in White City and at the BBC’s headquarters. I was also able to use the award to purchase books to successfully complete the technical sessions.
"The personal building and resilience workshops were something I have never experienced before. The goal of these workshops were to understand yourself, your preferences, and the people around you. It was the perfect chance to network with current employees, complete comprehensive exercises and do ‘extra’ homework in the form of reading books recommended by BBC staff. These sessions were extended during the lock-down period via Zoom as the BBC felt that it would be a great way to continue staying connected and maintain a learning environment.
"The course has benefitted me greatly as an undergraduate maths student and improved my professional development in general. The BBC is a place rich in tech expertise and content so by the taking part in this course I’m able to extend my maths degree. The knowledge attained from this experience will hopefully help me in my computing modules next year.
"This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to broaden my knowledge in the world of technology and develop my professional and personal skills. Completing this course is very relevant to my future for after I graduate from Queen Mary (hopefully with good grades!). This experience has provided me with much-needed information, experience and exposure to such a continuously changing field.
"I would like to say a huge thanks to our kind and generous alumni who have contributed to the Annual Fund. For me, the course was quite costly but thanks to your generosity I was able to complete the course without having to worry about the associated costs. I enjoyed delving into the realm of technology because of you and words cannot describe my gratitude! Thank you for continuing to support us because I know that without the financial help you so generously given, many students from disadvantaged backgrounds might not have taken the leap to make the most out of these great opportunities!"