A PIONEERING group of students have become the first at Bradford College to complete a course developing digital and leadership skills.

English for Speaker of Other Languages (ESOL) students have celebrated at a special ceremony honouring their success in the Wakelet Student Ambassador Programme.

The 18 Entry Level 3 students have each earned the Wakelet Student Ambassador certificate and badge.

Students achieving the award are: Dermosesian Maryam, Leena Sadiq, Usman Ghani, Malaika Ikram, Humza Muhammad, Mariam Khakhel, Ilona Vasilachi, Rukhma Khaqan, Muhammad Ali, Minh Tuan, Ramadan Salih, Zeeshan Ahmed, Hani Mergany Ahmed Naser, Tanees Sattar, Sudes Iqbal, Senda Zigova, Daniel Chetroi and Fatima Ashraf.

The Student Ambassador course is designed to help students gain valuable digital citizenship skills to enhance their future prospects.

A wide range of activities and tasks are embedded in the course to gain Wakelet badges to help them track their own progress and increase motivation in learning.

The course aims to:

• Improve key digital skills and promote awareness and the benefits of digital citizenship.

• Enable students to use digital tools and Wakelet to demonstrate critical thinking skills.

• Allow educators to enrol their students onto the Wakelet course to improve their autonomous skills, digital and citizenship skills and help them become great student leaders

• Build teamwork relationships in class and online

The lessons and tasks combined face-to-face instruction and tools such as Microsoft Teams. Seima Mahmood, an ESOL Lecturer and a Digital Champion, said: “I would like to express my gratitude to the IT team at Bradford College, especially Fraser Wight who allowed Wakelet to be set up and have accounts on MS Teams. The course ran smoothly due to having an easy access to Wakelet classroom which allowed me to monitor and review students’ work.”

The students had six tasks to complete, equipping them with modern, dynamic learning skills.

Added Seima: “Having digital literacy skills is always essential, but blended learning has become even more important now than ever, due to the pandemic and lockdown. Digital skills allow students the ability to navigate through various digital platforms, explore a variety of digital tools and apps to improve their learning and communicate through them. Eventually, students will become better digital citizens!”

The ESOL students are proud of their achievements. One said: “The award will make a real difference to my future prospects.It has helped me gain confidence.”

* IT began with a festive jumper fundraiser, and now the partnership between Bradford College and Mind in Bradford is set to continue.

In December the college’s lead mental health and wellbeing practitioner Vicki Gonzalez organised a Festive Jumper Day for Mind in Bradford, which raised £244.82. Now the college plans to work with Mind in Bradford on other events. As well as volunteering to help students who need support, the college is planning activities for Mental Health Awareness Week in May and staff can take part in mental health first aid training, learning to spot signs of mental health issues in young people and guide them towards support.

Lydia Gray of Mind in Bradford, said: “It’s great to see the wellbeing of students being a key focus for the college. It’s going to be a fantastic partnership.” Visit mindinbradford.org.uk/

* BARBERING students had lessons from an expert during a class at Bradford College. Mohamed Raje, master barber and owner of The Studio in Duckworth Lane, demonstrated shaving techniques to Level 2 and Level 3 Barbering students. He has also offered work placements for students.

Mohamed showed how to prepare tools for shaving and male grooming, ensuring hygiene, health and safety. He said: “I love coming here and demonstrating techniques to students. It gives me a chance to reach out into the community, especially young people. They’re the future.”

He began barbering aged 13, practising on friends and family. He established The Studio in 1993 and has developed a skilled team in-house. Mohamed advised the students to gain experience by getting a Saturday job with a barber.He added: “Try doing friends’ and family’s hair. There are many barber shops so offer your services.”

Hair and barbering lecturer Rachel Simpson said: “Mohamed is a regular visitor to Bradford College. During our first year of Level 3 barbering we had lockdown so weren’t able to offer as much practical training. But Mohamed now helps us demonstrate these techniques.” Mohamed has also supported students in assessments and attended a technical exam. “We need somebody from the industry watching assessments, alongside people from college, helping to make the final decision,” said Rachel.

* Bradford College is holding an Apprenticeships Open Event tomorrow (Tues Feb 8). The event, at the Little Germany campus on 39-41 Chapel Street from 2-7pm, offers the chance to drop in and speak to the college’s apprenticeships teams about opportunities available.
Sahir Khalid studied for a health dental nursing apprenticeship at Bradford College and became a key part of the team at Town Hall Dental, Brighouse, with the aim of becoming a dental hygienist. He said: “I chose my apprenticeship because I wanted a career that would allow me to help people with their health and confidence. My apprenticeship has expanded my ambitions.” 
Bradford College offer apprenticeships from Level 2 to 6 in sectors such as Construction and Trade, Engineering and Motor Vehicle, Professional Services and Health and Care. Visit bradfordcollege.ac.uk