Putting it Together: How Assessment, Student-Alumni Networks and Business Start-Ups Can Help Each Other

Here is one way that assessment of non-graduates; student-Alumni networking; and business start-ups could all help each other, by being put together into one comprehensive database, and by other means as well:

“Jane Doe has worked for technology companies in a senior role for over 30 years, and has always wanted to start a business of her own. Her chance comes, when a restructuring at her organisation leaves her redundant. Rather than approach her contacts for employment, she decides it is time to start a business herself.

A few phone calls and emails later, Jane has a list of potential partners and associates from old contacts and friends. They in turn have contacted people they know, and build up a sizeable team. Jane knows that her business will be a technology based provider to the corporate clients she knows. She has already mapped out strategies and scenarios for moving forward. But first, she needs a product to sell.

Sumera is an electrical engineering student at a nearby university. In the course of her studies, she has worked to develop the component parts for a new kind of robotic air control system, that is fully self-sufficient. The university tutors are impressed, and have patented her design. She has received many commendations and even a few awards. But although the university’s partner organisations have shown interest in its manufacture; many have insisted on a pilot project on a smaller scale, before it is put into production.

Jodie is a school leaver and trainee nurse. The oldest of her brothers and sisters, she chose to go straight into work to support her family. Her mother could not afford to send her to university, but she has managed to find night school courses in nursing, and medical science.

To pay for these, and help her family, she has taken a day job at a nearby fast food restaurant. Originally, this was to pay the bills. But her organisational skills, and learning potential have caught her manager’s attention. Following his Formal Recommendation, an Assessor comes to analyse her work, and duly awards Jodie a [fictional grade] Level 2 Certificate in Culinary Arts.

With this new qualification, Jodie decides that a change in career might be in order, and after finishing her medical course, applies for full time work in the city’s restaurants. She approaches the colleges for possible bursaries and sponsorships to support an apprenticeship.  Their response is lukewarm: while the colleges are keen to offer her support, she will need to demonstrate more experience.  Jodie accepts their conclusion, and registers online, in search of temporary contracts.

Meanwhile, Jane is searching for products and services for her business. A [fictional] database, called Initiate, allows her to search for employees, newly qualified candidates, and recently uploaded products and services - developed by agreement, with the universities and colleges. She comes across Sumera’s design for the robot technology, and decides on this as the product of choice.

Through the admins of the university’s student-Alumni network, Jane contacts Sumera, and is given access to the design, and implementation agreements. With her teams assembled, and the legal and financial plans in place, Jane Doe Technologies [fictional company] is born. Direct communication between the technical consultants, and the student-Alumni network, makes the technicians’ and engineers’ work very effective.  Jane’s technicians and engineers begin construction of the robots, while she and others, contact the corporate clients to market to.

A few months later and Jane’s business is growing. The uniqueness of Sumera’s design, and Jane’s years of marketing experience, have combined to grow her client base considerably. Jane has moved her business from her house to new premises, and will now need to upgrade several of her volunteers, to being paid staff. No onsite catering has yet been arranged, so Jane looks on the database for contractors. And one of the candidates on her list is a freelance catering contractor, by the name of Jodie.

Not long afterwards, an official launch is held at the new premises. This is Jodie’s first time catering on site to a business, and it has been a nerve wracking operation behind the scenes. A last minute change has meant that the Team Leader did not turn up, and Jodie has had to step in to replace him.  But her years of organising experience at home pay off, and she rises to the challenge. Under her guidance, the catering team have prepared, a full buffet on time, for the assembled guests.

At the launch are a great many guests, including Sumera, who has come to unveil the official display case of her robot designs. Representatives from other technology companies have already approached her, to work on new designs for them. Jane’s new colleagues toast Sumera and Jane for their efforts. And little do the guests know, but Jodie’s work that day will get her noticed by some full time catering contractors, who will secure her full time training for the roll as Assistant Chef at a big chain of restaurants.

All in all, opportunity has paid off for everyone.”

That is how it could work.

DISCLAIMER: THE ABOVE SCENARIO IS A HYPOTHETICAL EXAMPLE, ADAPTED FROM EXISTING NETWORKS, QUALIFICATIONS, AND ORGANISATIONS, TO DEMONSTRATE POSSIBLE DEVELOPMENTS; AND SHOULD BE REGARDED AS SUCH. NO MISREPRESENTATION OF EXISTING INDIVIDUALS, PROFESSIONS, ORGANISATIONS, NETWORKS, UNIVERSITIES, COLLEGES, BUSINESSES, OR INSTITUTIONS IS INTENDED, NOR SHOULD IT BE INFERRED.