NCW national coding week 2018

Inclusivity and innovation provide the key for Fifth National Coding Week (NCW)

Inclusivity and innovation provide the key for Fifth National Coding Week (NCW)

Digital excellence, innovation and inclusivity will be at the heart of the fifth National Coding Week, sponsored by JT.

This year’s National Coding Week (NCW) takes place 17 – 23 September and will offer a full programme of events in both Jersey and Guernsey to encourage interest in learning digital skills and provide hubs of activity that highlight inclusivity, social contribution and innovation.

Jersey-based NCW Head of Strategy Jonathan Channing said that the 2018 programme of events demonstrates the relevance of digital knowledge in all sectors of our community.

The week kicks off with a JT hosted launch event at the Digital Hub on 17 September which will look at the opportunities presented by new technologies and will also help people understand how to protect themselves from online threats. At the event, the NCW team will also demonstrate an augmented reality T-shirt and app, which uses computer-generated content to show the inside of the human body.

“The events we have lined up this year are a genuinely exciting mix and really do show the scope of digital innovation and the ways in which it is now embedded in so many areas of our lives. There are a range of events in both Jersey and Guernsey that will showcase the extent of digital innovation within our communities and there will also be many opportunities to join digital networking and leadership events in both islands,” said Mr Channing.

Mr Channing said that he was delighted that NCW’s work had recently been endorsed by the National Cyber Security Centre, which provides advice for the public and private sector in how to avoid computer security threats, for helping to make people aware of the need to be secure online and looking for ways to balance this with accessibility.

Dr Ian Levy, Technical Director for the National Cyber Security Centre, a part of GCHQ, said: “National Coding Week is a great reason to try your hand at coding but take the time to learn about writing secure code as well – it’s even more fun! This week, whether you’re a beginner or pro, I challenge you to learn one new technique to make your code safer. Safer code means a safer UK.”

Jersey Library and Digital Jersey will be the centres of activity in Jersey with Digital Greenhouse playing host to a variety of events in Guernsey throughout the week.

Tamara O’Brien, JT’s Head of Customer Experience, said: “It’s inspiring to see how National Coding Week has continued to grow which is down to the passion and energy of the organisers and their commitment to promoting digital learning and skills for people of all ages and abilities. We have been involved for 5 years providing sponsorship and one of the reasons that we’re very happy to support NCW is that it is centred around the concept of accessible technology and helping people in our communities to adapt to new changes in the digital world. Their events are inclusive and open to all provided in a relaxed environment which I’ve seen first-hand the benefits of, in helping people of all ages grow in confidence and adapt to the opportunities of the digital world.”

NCW was the brainchild of Islanders Richard Rolfe and Jordan Love and over the past five years, it has spread globally with events now being held as far away as the US and Australia.

Guides which explain how to get involved in NCW, case studies and the full programme of events are available on the NCW website https://codingweek.org 

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