Selby College Computing & Digital Newsletter Spring 2025
Department Newsletter
Greetings from Selby College’s Computing and Digital Industries Department!
Hello, I’m Rob Charlish, Head of Computing & Digital Industries, and I’d like to extend a warm welcome to you.
You’re exploring one of the most exciting and rapidly evolving industries in the world. Whether your interests lie in coding, cybersecurity, game design, or digital sustainability, the digital sector offers endless opportunities to innovate, create, and make an impact.
Our approach to learning is practical and hands-on. For example, students have worked with organisations like British Taekwondo to develop real-world digital solutions, such as a professional-level grading system now used at sporting events. Experiences like these help build skills and portfolios that stand out.
Whether you’re considering a career in tech, further study, or launching your own digital venture, there’s a place for your passion and ideas in this fast-moving field. The future is full of opportunity—and it’s yours to shape.
Wishing you all the best on your journey ahead.
Computing & Digital Industries Department Makes Sustainability Headlines!
Our Computing & Digital Industries Department has been making waves in the world of sustainable digital practices, recently earning a feature in Jisc’s digital newsletter. The article highlighted the department’s dedication to embedding sustainability into computing education, equipping students with the skills to design and implement efficient, secureand responsible digital systems.
From our range of courses, our students are able to gain hands-on experience in areas such as cloud computing, data optimisation and cybersecurity— which are all crucial in reducing digital waste and improving energy efficiency.
By working closely with industry partners, we ensure that our students are not only technically proficient but also ready to tackle real-world sustainability challenges in the digital sector. Welcome
Rob Charlish Head of Computing & Digital Industries
“Our commitment to digital sustainability in the Computing and Digital Industries curriculum has grown significantly. We now challenge students with real-world applications, from calculating the College’s daily carbon footprint to creating sustainable games in our Game Jam, fostering a deeper understanding of this critical issue.”
Rob Charlish Head of Computing & Digital Industries at the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group
Selby College turns 40!
This year we are
Our curriculum also places a strong emphasis on secure software development, ensuring that future professionals are prepared to build resilient and long-lasting digital solutions that minimise resource consumption while maintaining performance.
Hear from our Students
Elousie
“My ultimate goal is to get a job in Cybersecurity in the future, as I’ve always wanted to work in Computer Science or something technology-based. My biggest take-away from College has been independent learning and skills such as essay writing that have prepared me for university. I also got lots of support from my tutors, especially in form groups, as well as in my one-to-one meetings.”
Computer Science student Eloise, who has now progressed on to study Computer Science at the University of Lancaster
Bug in the System:
The term computer bug originated in 1947 when engineers found a real moth stuck in a relay inside the Harvard Mark II computer. They removed it and logged it as the first official computer “debugging”!
Floppy but Mighty:
Tomas
“I chose this course as it’s a growing subject and there’s lot to learn. It made sense to stay on at Selby College as it is a very engaging course and both the students and tutors are really nice.”
After completing his course, Tomas progressed onto the BSc (Hons) Applied Computing at Selby College.
Beck
“There are so many different avenues which you can go down with the course. My time at Selby College has allowed me to explore my creative side and discover my passion for character 3D modelling.”
Beck progressed onto a BSc (Hons) in Applied Computing at Selby College, part of the University Centre at the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group
Juliet
“I particularly liked the programming side of the course and found that it challenged me and pushed me to do my best. The level of support I received was great and there was always somewhere we could go and somebody I could speak to when I needed support. What I’ve learned about programming, assignments and essay-style writing will be invaluable in my degree.”
Juliet is now studying Computer Science at the University of York
The first floppy disks were 8 inches wide and could only hold 80 kilobytes of data – that’s less than a single modern email attachment!
A Game-Changing Start:
The first-ever video game, Tennis for Two, was created in 1958 and ran on an oscilloscope – a device normally used for measuring electrical signals!
Super Slow Internet:
The world’s first website went live in 1991, but most people had to use dial-up internet, which could take minutes just to load a single page!
Password Pioneers:
The first use of computer passwords was in the 1960s on MIT’s Compatible Time-Sharing System – but even back then, hackers were already trying to crack them!
