Valentin Arnautski has only recently completed his second year of the Ulster University Foundation Degree in Science in Computing, but already his website design skills have been celebrated for the impact and support they could provide for local people.
The Foundation Degree in Science in Computing is designed around the computing requirements of local industry and aimed at providing learners with the knowledge, understanding and design skills needed to work and thrive in the industry. Throughout Valentin’s second year a significant amount of time was spent on a Work Based Learning project, where students are placed with employers and charged with working on IT projects with them.
In Valentin’s case, his work focused on creating a website for the Pulmonary Fibrosis Support Group in Northern Ireland, an organisation which is open to patients, relatives and friends and endeavours to keep members up to date with current developments in pulmonary fibrosis treatments and news.
Throughout this collaboration, the work produced turned out to be not only significant student experience for Valentin, but also led to an invaluable resource for suffers of Pulmonary Fibrosis and their families.
Valentin worked closely with Tom McMillan, Chair of the organisation, to develop a website that helped users and carers access vital information. Working with Tom and with the organisation allowed Valentin to apply his theory taught education into a real life environment, and as such he played a leading role in a website which has the potential to drastically support people and improve lives.
The significance of Valentin’s work was recognised earlier this summer as Tom McMillan, his wife Una McMillan, who suffers from IPF, and other supporters of the charity gathered at the South West College Erne Campus to make a presentation to him.
Course Director for the Foundation Degree and Deputy Head of School for Mathematics and Computing at South West College, Heather Ellison, also credited Valentin. Heather said, “I'm delighted to have seen Valentin's excellent project being recognised. This is what our Work Based Learning module is about.
“I'm immensely proud of Valentin’s achievement and delighted that his skillset has shone through. On behalf of Valentin, I’d like to that Patrick Donnelly, Valentin’s Work Based Leaning Mentor at the college, for all his support and encouragement was very much appreciated, and of course Tom and all his colleagues for the support and trust they placed in Valentin in allowing him to be part of this important work.”
The Ulster University Foundation Degree in Science in Computing is available in Dungannon, Enniskillen and Omagh campuses. To find out more visit swc.ac.uk and search ‘science in computing’.
Photo caption: Left to Right: Patrick Donnelly, SWC Lecturer; Tommy Donohoe; Valentin Arnautski; Una McMillan; Heather Ellison.