7 August 2019

Liam Mills has made the switch to TAFE NSW from university – recognising that with hands-on experience from day one, he’ll learn the skills employers want.

Liam said that he had always wanted to study at university after school and started a degree in Information Technology earlier this year.

“My friends were all going to uni, and I liked the idea of university life, but in the end, it just wasn’t what I expected.”

Liam was disappointed when he realised he would not get much experience coding and building websites in the first few years of the course – delaying his career opportunities.

“I found I was spending all of my time in lectures and not getting any tangible or practical experience in web development in front of a computer.”

In years 11 and 12 at school, Liam had studied a TAFE NSW course in web & software applications and already knew the value of practical skills gained through TAFE NSW learning.

Dissatisfied with his degree, Liam made the switch to a Certificate 4 in Web-based Technologies at TAFE NSW Hornsby and said it’s the best decision he ever made. He has now gone on to study the Diploma of Website Development.

“I find my teachers to be extremely engaging, supportive and knowledgeable, which has made me want to continue to further study.”

“TAFE NSW is giving me practical experience, which means I’ll be ready for a career much sooner than if I had continued with my degree at university.”

According to the Australian Government’s Job Outlook, Information Technology will be one of the top four industries for job growth over the next five years, and there continues to be an unprecedented demand for workers qualified in computer system design.

The Diploma of Website Development at TAFE NSW, also offered online, gives students’ skills building dynamic, must-visit websites.

Liam’s TAFE NSW teacher Michael Kirkwood-Smith knows he’s skilling the workforce of the future.

“As more and more businesses go online, the demand for web developers and programmers continues to grow exponentially.”

“More businesses are looking to optimise their content across different platforms, and our students are well equipped to deal with the ever-evolving IT landscape.”

“Our students are coding and working in front of a computer from day one so we can ensure they are equipped with the skills employers desire.”

With more than 1200 courses and access to more than 25,000 employers, TAFE NSW can give you the skills you need to pursue your future career. To find out what courses are on offer, visit www.tafensw.com.au.

Media contact: Alice Dalley, TAFE NSW Media and Communications Business Partner, M: 0402 528 210.