YEAR 10 students from two schools have visited Bradford College to take part in a problem-solving ‘hackathon’.

Pupils from Parkside School in Cullingworth and Dixons McMillan Academy on Trinity Road, Bradford, were set the theoretical challenge of how to solve a hacking on the International Space Station with just a limited list of tools available. After just 90 minutes, all the teams successfully defeated the hack.

The innovative event is the result of an ongoing partnership with Bradford District social enterprise, Future Transformation, an organisation which provides awareness, opportunities, events, programmes, and experiences for people who want to build careers in tech.

Future Transformation believes that armed with the right knowledge, links, and support, it is possible to ‘level up’ the Bradford district. Their aim is to close the equality divide, productivity gap, and work collaboratively to rebalance the economy.

Future Transformation, led by Founder and Director Tim Rogers, enables pathways to those opportunities for all residents of Bradford, along with attracting talent from other areas to build a life in the district. Working with a range of organisations like Bradford College, Future Transformation provides skills to unlock potential, transforming the future of work, communities, and individual lives.

The College hosted a similar cyber-security event with Future Transformation and the Ministry of Defence earlier this year. The event used a range of engaging activities to highlight the importance of coding and programming and educated students about how such skills are embedded in our everyday lives.

Another local initiative supporting young people is the Future Technologies Centre. The education, research and training framework is designed by Bradford College to prepare students to develop the skills and qualifications for careers in the industries for the future.

The college has joined forces with employers to develop a number of hubs for specific industries, including sustainable transport, sustainable construction and allied and medical health technology. It has been designed by Bradford College to support the growth of technology and low carbon skills capacity and capability within West Yorkshire.

As well as enabling students to access and train with the latest technology, the centre aims to future-proof jobs for young people in Bradford, create a greener future and inspire a new generation.

* To find out more go to bradfordcollege.ac.uk/future-technology-centre

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: New HNDs are open for application New HNDs are open for application

* NEW HNDs are now open for applications at Bradford College, starting this September.

The HND courses include:

• HND Science (with pathways in Environmental Science, Biology or Chemistry);

• HND Computing (with pathways in Data Analytics, Cyber Security, and General Computing);

• Degree-level short courses in Construction & Engineering (HNC and HND modules - BIM and Sustainability);

These programmes will run alongside existing HND courses, with more set to be unveiled for September 2023.

HNDs are hands-on, vocational qualifications that allow learners to learn through doing. They are work-related and give skills that lead straight into specific professions or sectors.

Studying a HND makes it possible to achieve a graduate career in just two years at half the price of a degree. HNDs can allow entry into the second or third year of a degree programme, and so it is possible to top up a HND to a full degree at leading university destinations.

To find out more or to apply, go to bradfordcollege.ac.uk

* FOR the sixth year running, ESOL students held an enterprise event to challenge stereotypes about cultural differences at Bradford College.

Using heritage as their inspiration, the students ran the event to raise funds for local charities Bradford Nightstop, Bradford Central food bank, and Jolaurabi School.

Cristina Nicolae, Curriculum Team Leader for ESOL, said: “In 2015, 16-18 ESOL learners and lecturers organised the first event to challenge cultural stereotypes. The year after, we started raising money for charity. This year learners chose a local charity . We're amazed by their creative talent. Students created bespoke posters and a newsletter to promote the event. We're all very proud of our learners and their desire to help others."

The event, which has raised £500 so far, included music, dance and stalls selling clothing, henna tattoos and food.

* BRADFORD College graduate Amna Wajid recently became the first student to publish an approved CPD article in a national publication for opticians. The editorial, entitled Public awareness of diabetes and understanding its effects on ocular health, featured in the March 2022 issue of Dispensing Optics, one of the UK’s leading publications for the education of opticians, produced by The Association of British Dispensing Opticians (ABDO).

Amna, who has a first-class honours in her BSc (Hons) Ophthalmic Dispensing degree, said: “A huge thank you to my dissertation supervisor, Bradford College Lecturer in Ophthalmic Dispensing Maryna Hura, for recommending me to the ABDO CPD team for the publication of my article. This was a fantastic opportunity to explore the research aspect of optics. I look forward to future developments in diabetic eyecare.”