This new collaboration will allow students from the School of Computer Science & Technology (CST) to get involved in live research projects, gain first hand industry experience, and the chance to help develop new product lines for Switchshop in addition to gaining exposure to Switchshop’s vendor partners, such as HPE Aruba Networking, Fortinet and Acronis.

Students will also get to hear from industry professionals through a range of immersive workshops and guest speakers and be invited on field trips to major companies’ headquarters to find out more about their IT and security practices.

Dr Edward Braund, Head of School for Computer Science & Technology, said: “We are excited to announce our new partnership with Switchshop, which will enable the CST at the University of Bedfordshire to create an effective ecosystem between academia and industry.

“Through this partnership, our students will learn from academics who are actively shaping their disciplines and gain valuable insights from Switchshop's industry professionals. They will have the opportunity to work on live industry projects, gaining first-hand experience of how their subjects apply in the real world. Our academic team looks forward to collaborating closely with Switchshop to ensure we support each other in staying at the forefront of technological advancement.”

This partnership closely links with the University’s Career Powered Education goals, which focus on equipping students with a degree that acts as a springboard to the career they’ve set their sights on and the skills they need to be prepared for the workplace.

Jennifer Burford, Head of Marketing at Switchshop, added: “We are thrilled to enter this partnership with the University of Bedfordshire. This partnership marks a significant milestone for Switchshop and represents our commitment to fostering innovation and excellence in the field of network technology and cybersecurity.

“By collaborating with a forward-thinking institution like the University of Bedfordshire, we're not just investing in the future of our industry – we're actively shaping it. This partnership opens up exciting opportunities for knowledge exchange and research collaboration. Moreover, this partnership will provide invaluable real-world experience for students, bridging the gap between academic learning and industry application.”

Learn more about courses available with the School of Computer Science & Technology, including Cybersecurity, Information Technology, and Computer Networking.