The Digital Skills Programme is a series of completely free short courses offering 4-day intensives so you can learn the skills graduate employers are looking for.
Open to all students and 2020 alumni, this active learning programme will provide you with a competitive edge ready to enter the graduate job market. These sessions will be provided via remote teaching; resources, task and lectures will all be available to you online. Timetabled sessions will be offered in on-campus labs for students wishing to use UR facilities.
Basics of Web Design – 17 May
Learn the fundamentals of web design, how to build a simple web page, and how to work with content management systems such as WordPress.
Course Leader: Genevieve Smith-Nunes
Dates: Monday 17th May – Thursday 20 May, 09:30am – 12:30pm
Requirements: Laptop, browser, and code editor.
Takeaway: Your own WordPress site ready to show the world.
Course Leader Q&A:
Why is this an important skill for graduates in the current job market?
“We live a in digitally mediate world and by having basic web design skills gives you access to a wide variety of job and or further education opportunities.”
What is your favourite thing about your course?
“My favourite thing about web design is the creativity of any given project.”
Introduction to Programming – 24 May
This friendly introduction to coding will take you through the basics of programming in Python and working with the building blocks of computer code.
Course Leader: Miles Berry
Dates: Monday 24th May – Thursday 27 May, 09:00am – 12:00pm
Requirements: A Google account to access Colab in your browser.
Takeaway: Colab notebooks showing your new coding skills.
Course Leader Q&A:
Why is this an important skill for graduates in the current job market?
What is your favourite thing about your course?
“My favourite thing about programming is the moment when the program does what it was supposed to: solving a problem or making something happen faster or better than I’d ever be able to do myself.”
Data Analytics – 1 June
The fundamentals of data analytics. You will learn how to work with real-world data, explore social media and web analytic datasets, search engine optimism, and more. You will be able to present data using formulas, pivot tables and visualisations.
Course Leader: Gauti Sigthorsson
Dates: Tuesday 1st June – Friday 4 June, 09:00am – 12:00pm
Requirements: Laptop, Microsoft Excel, Tableau Public (free).
Takeaway: Create and share a data visualisation using Tableau Public.
Course Leader Q&A:
Why is this an important skill for graduates in the current job market?
“The most important skill for data analytics is how to ask the right questions so that you can turn data into knowledge. Whether that is data about how many visitors to a website, the sales figures at a shop, or the people in an organisation, there is a skill to turning data into useful information.”
What is your favourite thing about your course?
“I enjoy finding things out with data, having my assumptions challenged or even turned upside down. Ask the right questions, and the answers may surprise you!”
Online Video Making – 7 June
Learn the basics of making a short online video, from idea through shooting and editing on a smartphone and laptop to online distribution. You will be able to create good-looking and -sounding videos for publishing on online platforms.
Course Leader: Cinzia Cremona
Dates: Monday 7th June – Thursday 10 June, 09:00am – 12:00pm
Takeaway: A video file ready to upload to a video streaming service of your choice.
Course Leader Q&A:
Why is this an important skill for graduates in the current job market?
“The capacity to produce media content is an important skill for any graduate in the current job market. Versatility in representing your work, your research, your brand complements any qualification.”
What is your favourite thing about your course?
“Making a video about something you care about and being able to publish it is such a great satisfaction. A video brings your thoughts to life like nothing else can. It’s like having a second life.”
Book your space today on the free University of Roehampton app, available on GooglePlay and the App Store.