The Technology Leadership Forum (TLF) is on the lookout for Bermuda’s digital leaders of the future with the launch of recruitment process for the 2011 Internship Programme.

Prospective students will have the chance to meet leaders and key players in the IT industry and learn more about the programme at the TLF IT Student Networking Event held at the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club on Monday, December 20 between 5.30pm and 7.30pm.

The event will also be an opportunity for IT professionals to provide advice on subjects to pursue in school, industry trends and information about their respective organisations.

IT scholarship programmes are also invited to provide information on their requirements to students actively undertaking degrees and certifications in this area.

The announcement was made by Patrice Minors, Minister of Business Development and Tourism, at the House of Assembly on Friday, who gave an overview of the TLF, an initiative designed by the Department of E-commerce in partnership with private sector technology industry companies to prepare the next generation of Information Communication Technology (ICT) professionals.

Ms Minors explained that on being selected as a TLF intern, the student will be assigned to a position within a company or institution and undergo a programme of work experience, classroom learning, team projects, examinations and fieldwork, with ICT members of staff at the participating companies as mentors.

She said that every four weeks all of the interns would be brought together for specialised training, providing exposure to new subject matter, as well as understanding the breadth and depth of careers in IT that exist and their importance to the business world and society.

They would also learn customer service skills and undertake group projects which demand the development of collaboration skills, amongst others, she said.

“Students often find with the TLF internship program that they are exposed to numerous areas of IT and are able to interact directly with senior IT professionals,” she said.

“This taste of the real world is very important and many of the interns believe that the exposure to the diversity of IT environments within companies, combined with the other aspects of the TLF Internship programme will allow them to successfully prepare for their future careers in IT.”

On completion of the programme students will receive a certificate of excellence.

In 2009, the TLF Internship programme had 10 participants, which grew to 12 students this year. The organisations that participated in the 2010 programme included Belco, RenaissanceRe, Bermuda Hospitals Board, the Department of E-Government, the Department of E-Commerce, North Rock Communications, the Bermuda College, Capital G Ltd., Colonial Insurance, Gateway Systems Ltd., QuoVadis, Logic Communications, Independent Consulting Solutions, First Atlantic Commerce, the Department of Labour and Training, Nova Ltd., and Ignition.

For more information visit www.tlf.bm