The graduates of the Technology Leadership Forum (TLF) Internship Programme were celebrated at a ceremony at the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club.

The TLF aims to encourage Bermudian students interested in information communication technology (ICT) careers.

Ciera Fox, Colisha Smith, Daniel Walker, Dante Richardson, Mpumelelo Richards and Samuel Matthews were the six students who completed the 12-week intensive summer internship.

The TLF interns gained experience in the ICT industry through classroom learning, a team project in which they came up with a concept for a website, pitched it and then developed it, and fieldwork as interns at participating companies.

The TLF was founded because of an identified need for qualified Bermudian talent in the ICT field. The registered charity is run in partnership between private and public sector technology companies and organisations.

Addressing the interns, Education and Economic Development Minister Grant Gibbons said: “In today’s world, the use of technology is a critical factor in the success of any business, large or small. I congratulate our graduates who now join a cadre of TLF alumni who will be the next generation of local technology leaders. We can only imagine what technology advances will occur in the future, but no doubt our TLF talent will contribute in developing innovative solutions for business and other sectors.”

The 2014 programme culminated in the August 19 graduation, where the interns received a certificate of excellence, which allows industry partners to know the level of expertise they bring to the table.

During the classroom training sessions, students focused on modules such as Business Continuity, Project Management, Information Security, Data Warehousing, Programming, and Networking.

The success of the programme is reflected in the hiring of TLF internship graduates by organisations such as the Bermuda Hospitals Board, Orbis, CCS, RenaissanceRe, Logic and the Ascendant Group.

Edgar Dill, vice-president of sales and marketing at LinkBermuda said: “To be a success in ICT requires a full acceptance and commitment to being a permanent student.”

Two special awards were also handed out. Dante Richardson won the most improved student award, as the intern who had made great strides in the programme, taking the instruction and opportunities provided to enhance his skill.

Dion Tucker won the TLF most inspiring IT professional award. The award represents the interns’ acknowledgment of an ICT professional who made an impact on the cohort by providing instruction, advice and counsel to enable them to move towards their career goals.

Mr Tucker, who is the chairman of the TLF and chief information officer of the Bermuda Hospitals Board, said: “The TLF Internship Programme, now in its sixth year, goes beyond traditional mentoring programmes by offering students professional development in the form of meaningful mentoring relationships that will facilitate tangible networking and career connections. The goal of this programme is to give technology students a viable and effective opportunity to develop a relationship with an alumni, potential employer, or technology professional who can support and guide them in preparing for their intended careers.

“By providing these college and university students with a range of diverse and engaging learning opportunities, courses and programs, we feel they are better prepared to enter the working arena. We continue to see high-calibre students with strong academic backgrounds, energetic and enthusiastic to learn and explore the opportunities available to them in the technology industry.”

Mr Tucker thanked the TLF sponsors who include Ascendant Group, Department of E-Commerce, Logic, CCS, Renaissance Re, ACT, Elbow Beach Bermuda, Catlin, and the Bermuda Hospitals Board. The organisations that provided the training and training facilities were: CCS, Bermuda Hospitals Board, Ascendant Group, Digicel, Nova, Ernst & Young, First Atlantic Commerce, Department of Workforce Development, Jan Fraiser and the Bermuda College.

For more information on the Technology Leadership Forum Internship Programme, members of the public can visit www.TLF.bm.