Why start a BCS student chapter?

2. Why start a BCS student chapter? • Make contacts and network with professionals who are involved with the BCS community. • To gain a deeper knowledge and understanding of the IT industry through guest speakers, events, and networking opportunities. • Build your CV by being a committee leader or member of your BCS Student Chapter. • Demonstrate professionalism at an early stage, giving a positive impression to employers. • Organise, implement and promote engaging and academically supportive activities and events for computing students. • The profile of BCS and the chapter is increased within the universities and the wider community.

3. Current Chapters • University of Bedfordshire • University of Bradford • University of Greenwich • University of Kent • University of Sheffield • University of Stirling • University of Sunderland • University of Warwick • Leeds Beckett University • Brunel University • University of Bath • Cardiff Metropolitan University • University of Reading • University of Leeds • University of Birmingham • Kingston University • London Metropolitan University London South Bank University • Open University • Plymouth University • Prifysgol Aberystwyth University • Prifysgol Glyndŵr University • Royal Holloway University • Coventry University • Nottingham Trent University • University of Surrey • Birkbeck University • Oxford Brookes University

4. Chapter Activities • Freshers’ fairs • Kick-off events/talks • Bradford & Sheffield joint hackathon • Joint London Event at Kingston • Leeds Beckett careers talk • S.W Branch talk at Plymouth • Sheffield YPG talk series • Bedfordshire – Women in Computing • Joint London event at South Bank • Bedfordshire & Leeds CAS links

5. Event Write-Ups

6. Making Links Enterprise Architecture Young Professionals Information Security Information Risk Management Local Branches Local Companies Inter Chapter Relationships

7. Making Links • Sheffield YPG –spoke at each of the chapters in their area on their career ‘stories’ and gave tips for those entering the industry • Event at Sheffield Hallam University with young professionals in the area talking on their career, how they got there, and tips on preparing for the future.

8. Soundbites • ‘Setting up the chapter was really easy. My recommendation would be to just go for it, it's been excellent so far. I think what interests the students is the chance to work together with fellow students to achieve rewarding results. A lot of students don't have any professional experience, something like a BCS student chapter is going to be valuable when we leave university’. -Leeds Beckett Chapter Chair • ‘In class many students are not aware of professional and industry issues and most are very academically focused but have very little knowledge of real world issues […] the impact it can have on student the experience is very positive and this encourages students and prepares them to be more industry aware’. -London Metropolitan Chapter Chair • ‘Many, many thanks for talking at the event on Tuesday. I thought that it was highly successful. I think both of us were surprised at the number of students who turned up. They were all so motivated as well’. -Educational Liaison, Bedfordshire • ‘I just wanted to say that myself and Eva really enjoyed delivering the 'BCS YPG talk last night with the Leeds Beckett Chapter. It was really inspiring to see a good turnout of students who were really interested in the talk. Thank you for all of you for inviting us and being very welcoming, as well as for organising the venue, it was a fantastic event.’ –S. Yorkshire YPG Rep

9. CPHC Computing Graduate Employability – Sharing Practice Providing relevance and motivation by encouraging students to join (or organise) competitions and hackathons. “And most importantly, we’ve got our student-led, extracurricular engagement. We’re a BCS student chapter. Our student society is a year old. …Actually, they’ve invited students from [another institution]. They’ve invited other student bodies from [other institutions] from their friendship groups, from other computing societies, to come to their events. And now they’re building up momentum. “I don’t know how you replicate a really active Computing Science Society. I think you just need that body of students, one year, who really get things going and that works really well.”

10. BCS Voices • A new tool to ‘share opinion and create debate’ which is suitable for anyone from students to expert level practitioners. • Currently focussed around the 4 BCS challenge topics, a toolkit for discussion. • Opportunity to invite a range of ‘voices’ to the mix. • Salford – “There were some great conversations going on, and I particularly enjoyed seeing your students getting more and more confident in talking to the recruiters”.

11. More Information… Keep up with the student chapters here: www.bcs.org/studentchapters Email: olivia.tan@bcs.uk