For the fourth year, Xaar will be sponsoring the PrintIT! programme which aims to engage students in topical design projects using the latest print techniques to demonstrate just how diverse and interesting the print industry can be.
“We aim to educate as wide an audience as possible about the many opportunities provided by digital inkjet technology. Therefore, we are delighted to continue our support for this major initiative that promotes the print industry within schools to attract fresh talent with fresh ideas,” says Mark Alexander, Director of Marketing, Xaar. “Results of a recent survey found that students participating in PrintIT! are three times more likely to think about working in the industry after completing the programme. PrintIT! is having a real impact on the way the industry presents itself to the wider world. It develops closer links between schools and industry, whilst improving individual skills for students.”
The PrintIT! programme has gone from strength to strength over recent years, with over 16,700 students from more than 350 schools registering to take part in 2011. Heath Adams, a design teacher at Dene Magna Community School, Gloucestershire, which won the award for “Best Use of Materials” in the 2010-11 competition, explained that his students really enjoyed taking part in PrintIT! “It was probably the combination of a live client brief, the inclusion of a Fairtrade element, and an involvement in the complete design and print process that struck a chord with the students,” he said. “I think that one of the strengths of the PrintIT! competition is that it forces both teachers and students to look at good examples of a variety of print technologies and applications. It is important to foster close links between schools and industry. The more that we can make lessons more relevant to what students will face when they leave school the better; PrintIT! is a great example of how that can be achieved,” he says.
As part of Xaar's sponsorship, the company gave every school that entered a copy of its book “Industrial Inkjet for Dummies” as an educational tool to enable them to learn more about industrial inkjet technology.
Proskills is keen to expand PrintIT! further in 2012. Deputy CEO Tom Bowtell says. “PrintIT! has gathered real momentum over the last few years and we are pleased to continue to work with Xaar as an influential print technology leader; however, we do rely on sponsors to run the programme, so if you want to support the on-going development of the print industry just as Xaar has, then please get in touch,” he says.