Usman Umar’s experience providing Q-Step work placements at the City Development Directorate at Leeds City Council
Q-Step work placement host
City Development Directorate at Leeds City Council Usman Umar took four Q-Step students on placement and is emphatic that it was a win-win situation |
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What did the Q-Step students gain?
The Q-Step students processed, analysed and presented data to inform evidence-based city planning projects. Working on this substantial project in a professional context gave the students valuable experience in:
The Q-Step students that worked on placement in my team did the programme and their institution proud.”Usman Umar, Placement provider
What did Leeds City Council gain?
The Q-Step students met some important needs for Usman and his team by providing:
In short, the students completed everything that was required of them to a high standard and did a little more besides.
What skills did the Q-Step students bring?
Usman was sure, thanks to working with the staff at the Leeds University Q-Step Centre, that the placement students would all arrive with high-level data skills and a sound theoretical underpinning gained from their studies. The students were organised and committed, they were reliable and managed their time effectively. They also worked well together and within the wider team.
Were there any challenges?
Usman found that any challenges were logistical and administrative ones, such as arranging access to buildings and equipment, and supporting students to use the systems and processes in place at the organisation. However, he found these challenges straightforward to overcome, and outweighed by the benefits gained from hosting the placements.
Would Leeds City Council host more Q-Step students?
The Council will undoubtedly want to continue hosting Q-Step students. Usman is clear that there is a genuine desire to support students in this way and that, as and when suitable projects arise, Leeds City Council would be keen to use Q-Step students as a valuable external resource.