Brendon Bell

_{Brendon Bell gained a degree in IT based on his extensive on-the-job experience.}

Instead of taking three years to study full-time – or even longer part-time - Brendon achieved his Bachelor of Information and Communication Technologies through Ara Institute of Canterbury’s Centre for Assessment of Prior Learning (CAPL).

CAPL assesses an individual’s skills and experience – gained through employment, volunteering and other avenues – and translates it into credits towards a formal qualification.

Brendon had amassed considerable skills and knowledge in IT throughout his career – so much in fact that after a process of assessment over several months, the CAPL team concluded he met all the requirements of a degree. Unlike many CAPL participants, he didn’t need to do any courses or papers to fill any knowledge gaps, simply because his assessors were able to determine that he didn’t have any.

“My experience and knowledge is extensive,” says Brendon, who’d previously gained a diploma in ICT from Ara but felt his resume would be stronger with a degree. “The tricky part was applying an academic lens to it.”

Brendon’s experience stems from many years in technology roles, including at SKY TV, Foodstuffs in Christchurch, DXC Connect in Brisbane and mining giant Rio Tinto in Far North Queensland, where he’s currently contracted as a senior professional network engineer on a ‘fly in, fly out’ basis.

_{Brendon’s IT expertise contributes to the 24/7 operation of machinery at Rio Tinto’s bauxite mines in Far North Queensland.}

Now, with an IT degree to his name, Brendon hopes to further his career with postings to some of Rio Tinto’s far-flung and exotic locations including Mongolia and Canada.