Local knowledge transfer

It is interesting that students at universities in the US are working as consultants for businesses (“Cut-price advice from campuses”, News, 16 April). I run a group called the Kent IT Consultancy (KITC), which is part of the University of Kent. We provide IT guidance and consultancy for local small and medium-sized enterprises. We have been focusing on SMEs as we feel that this is a very underserved market in terms of IT consultancy. We can offer our services at rates that are affordable for even the smallest business, with our students assuming the role of consultants, who in turn receive a huge boost in their employability prospects. That this model has been picked up by larger corporations in the US is encouraging.

Jason Marshall
Via timeshighereducation.co.uk