Breaking Barriers and Building Futures: Aura’s Tech Industry Gold Experience
Breaking Barriers and Building Futures: Aura’s Tech Industry Gold Experience
Final-year Computer Science student Aura Brzezowska chose University of Staffordshire for its hands-on, industry-relevant curriculum and Tech Industry Gold accreditation. From being one of few women in her early classes to leading in placements, events, and awards, Aura’s story shows how employer-led accreditation like Tech Industry Gold equips learners with current skills, confidence, and real-world impact.
Meet Aura: A future tech leader in the making
Aura’s passion for technology began early. Despite the gender imbalance she saw in her classrooms, she felt inspired by trailblazers like Ada Lovelace, (and as Aura put it, “the mother of technology”), and the overlooked women behind early computing milestones.
“I decided I wanted to be the change in the industry….. this is the pathway for me”.
Determined to break barriers, Aura enrolled on to University of Staffordshire’s Computer Science degree, a Tech Industry Gold accredited programme, and chose to complete a placement year, turning her degree into a four-year journey of growth and opportunity.
Choosing the University of Staffordshire and the Tech Industry Gold advantage
When researching universities, Aura compared modules closely. Many programmes felt overly theoretical or outdated, but Staffordshire stood out. Its hands on learning, industry alignment, and the Tech Industry Gold tick signalled a course built around employer expectations and practical skills.
“I want to get very hands on… exactly equivalent to the current industry.”
The accreditation gave Aura confidence that every module was relevant, current, and shaped by employers who understand the skills the tech sector needs today.
Continuous currency: A curriculum that evolves with industry
One of Aura’s biggest takeaways is the constant evolution of the curriculum. Aura watched as technologies, tools, and languages were updated each year to reflect what employers were using in practice.
For example, while Flutter was popular when she first enrolled due to relevance to the Google industry at time, it was later replaced with technologies more widely adopted across industry. This meant learners always developed skills with real career value.**Breadth first, then specialism **
In her first two years, Aura explored the full tech landscape: software development, networking, cybersecurity, cloud computing, and virtualisation. This strong foundation helped her identify her passions and specialise in cyber security.
The integration of industry certifications within the modules gave Aura and her peers on Staffordshire’s Computer Science programme a tangible edge. Learners work towards industry recognised qualifications such as Cisco CCNA , CompTIA Security+, AWS Cloud Practitioner and Linux Essentials, an experience she notes is rarely embedded elsewhere.**Enrichment opportunities that build confidence **
Aura reflects on the enrichment opportunities within her Tech Industry Gold accredited programme as some of the most transformative parts of her learning journey. Through techskills-facilitated events at Staffordshire University, learners were connected directly with employers for real-world, hands-on experiences.
One highlight was a VR-focused hackathon, where students worked collaboratively to tackle an industry challenge. Another was an employability and professionalism session, designed to strengthen learners’ confidence and readiness for the workplace.
“Seeing everyone collaborate together… is exactly what we need at this university.”
Real world readiness: Placement year at IKEA
Aura’s placement at IKEA offered a rotation across Information Security, IT, and Project Management. Every part of the role connected back to something she had learned in her Tech Industry Gold programme. She applied skills in disaster recovery planning, software testing, database design and management and more.
Aura noticed a clear difference between her learning experience and that of students from non-accredited programmes.
She credits the accreditation for strengthening both the quality and relevance of her course:
“I probably wouldn’t have had these skills if it weren’t for the techskills accreditation that developed my course into what it is today.”
Aura’s placement year became a defining moment in her personal and professional growth:
“I wouldn’t be the person I am today without the placement.”
Recognition and awards.
Aura’s impact has been widely recognised. She won STEAM Personality of the Year at the Inspirational Youth Awards, and Cyber Student of the Year at the National Cyber Awards. In total, she notes winning six awards in a single year linked to her work, internships, managerial role in the Staffs Computing Society and university experience.**Aura’s advice for future learners **
Aura’s message to prospective learners is simple and powerful:
“Look for the Tech Industry Gold tick.”
She explains that accredited programmes are designed to meet the skills employers need, with modules that directly match the competencies listed in real-world job descriptions.
“For the Tech Industry Gold accreditation specifically, if you see that tick, you know the course is up to date and aligned with what employers are looking for.”
Aura encourages learners to explore module content and compare it to industry expectations, something she did before choosing her degree. She saw immediately that the accreditation wasn’t just a badge; it was a guarantee of relevance.
Why Tech Industry Gold makes a difference
Aura’s story demonstrates how the Tech Industry Gold accreditation framework empowers learners to succeed innovate and lead in the tech sector. Guided and validated by employers, this accreditation ensures learners graduate ready to contribute, innovate, and lead.
Tech Industry Gold is the only employer led accreditation of its kind offering:
- Standards shaped directly by employers
- Curricula kept current through regular revalidation
- A blend of technical, business, and interpersonal skills
- A strong partnership between academia and industry to strengthen learner readiness
A journey still in motion
Aura’s story is still unfolding, but even now, her journey shows how the right environment, the right support, and the right accreditation can unlock a learner’s potential. Her experience reflects what techskills and Tech Industry Gold are designed to do: equip every learner not just to enter the tech world, but to thrive in it.