Learner Testimonial — Sushil, ICT Technician

From Nepal to the UK, an inspiring story by our Level 3 Information Communications Technician (ICT) apprentice, Sushil Gandharba!

“I grew up in rural Nepal, in a remote village that had no connection to the telephone line, no pitch road, and very sporadic electricity…Regardless of that, I was very excited by anything related to computers and technology!

“My obsession with computers started when my father sent me an ASUS laptop from the UK for my 10th birthday. One of my favourite things was going through all the Control Panel settings and seeing how changing them affected the laptop's performance. When my self-led exploration reached its limits, I took a private computer class where I learned computer basics like MS software. 

“I later moved to Kathmandu to continue school; that’s where I had access to the Internet for the first time in my life. I watched countless YouTube tutorials that helped me understand how technology works. In the beginning, I wanted to know how to make my computer faster and extend the RAM; then I learned all about Command Prompts – basic videos, ‘How to do x,’ laptop reviews, creating a home set-up, etc.

“Our school eventually added a computer class to its curriculum, when I was a teenager – but even so, Nepal lacks jobs and opportunities in technology. IT was not a good career choice. Several of my cousins, who work in IT, had to leave Nepal to follow this career.

“I started studying Social Work at university and helping local communities. I interned with the Shikharapur Community Learning Center, where I would plan activities for children, help them study, and teach them basic computer skills. My friends and I raised money to help schools get better equipment; we also opened a library in rural Nepal.

“Then, in 2020, my father asked my mother and I to come over to the UK and live with him. My priority became continuing my education. As soon as we arrived, the UK went into lockdown.

“Back in Nepal, I’d researched ways to transfer my university credits, but when I called universities here, they said I couldn’t. They recommended an NVQ Access Course, which was a great opportunity to learn how we study in the UK, what kind of courses there are, how we do things here.

“I enrolled in West London College, which gave me a solid understanding of the fundamentals of computing and application development. It helped me develop my skills and confidence across a range of Software Development aspects, including programming, website creation, databases and database design, graphics (including Photoshop), 3D modelling, PyCharm, Python…

“I learned all of this in college courses, but also delved deeper into programming on my own using W3Schools, the Sololearn app, and YouTube. My favourite part is, how can I make this work? It makes me excited!

“At the time, I was also working on my soft skills, employed in retail and as a waiter. I learned to deal with pressure, pay attention to detail, and be flexible and adaptable.

“I then went through the UCAS process and applied to uni. However, after being admitted, I was capped with international student fees that were set to increase annually by anywhere between 5 and 25 percent. This uncertainty meant I couldn’t plan anything else, so I started looking for alternatives.

“I found a lot of great things on the UCAS website, including apprenticeships (which don’t exist in Nepal). I realized that, if I chose a four-year university degree in Computer Science, I would have to be retrained by the time I entered the workforce, because my employer would use the latest technology available then. In contrast, taking an apprenticeship that combines employment with study would keep my knowledge up-to-date.

“The apprenticeship application process was easier than UCAS too. I mostly applied to Programming and ICT standards.

“I started my Level 3 ICT Apprenticeship with Ark Schools last summer. They are a charity that aims to transform children's lives through education. I have been delighted to find that I can combine my love of computers with the ability to bring genuine value to society and the people around me.

“The are other apprentices at Ark too. My In-work Mentor, Scott, is the Onsite Technician; we work face-to-face every day; my supervisor, James, has supported me from day one. We’ve worked on projects like transferring from software to OneDrive, getting Chromebooks, getting a new interactive whiteboard…

“This apprenticeship allows me to learn the way I learn best, by doing, and feels like a course tailored to me. Before starting this programme, my parents were worried that I wouldn’t get certified; however, after I started, I found out that Firebrand offer certifications as part of the apprenticeship. When I complete it, I will have four certifications recognised in the world of IT. I think that’s really cool!

“We’re studying CompTIA A+, Network +, Cloud Essentials+, and BCS Business Management. The Cyber Security part of the CompTIA course was really exciting, so now I’m on the fence – should I specialise in Programming or Cyber Security?

“After I’m done, I’ll work for a while and self-study on the side; after that, perhaps the Level 4 Apprenticeship in Cyber Security would be good!

“My favourite part of the apprenticeship? Lots of things! I can learn while working professionally, which helps me understand what I’m good at and develops my character – also, all the courses and the time and support we get from our mentors. In traditional academic settings, we learn from books or articles; examples are limited and most of the problems have a solution. Learning in an organizational setting provides new problems that I have to research in order to solve.

“Apprenticeships may be a fairly new concept compared to the traditional education system, but they provide many benefits and opportunities to help learners accelerate their careers!”

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