Leeds Trinity University recently welcomed Hundo, an organisation specialising in upskilling and preparing students (and parents) in artificial intelligence (AI), to the Main Campus in Horsforth for a Virtual Careers Fair Roadshow. It was the first time I had ever experienced anything like this, and I wasn’t disappointed.

Hundo provide a user-friendly platform that enables students to engage in real-world projects, fostering a portfolio of skills and achievements that can be showcased on CVs and applications. The platform, accessible via a student dashboard, integrates workplace-like collaboration and communication tools, allowing progress tracking, team updates and skills mapping. Their flexible solutions also cater to educators and employers, offering immersive work experiences that can be seamlessly integrated into any educational framework over varying durations.

Hundo have built an immersive careers fair in partnership with Leeds City Council's Employment and Skills team. Here at Leeds Trinity University, we work closely with the local Council to connect students with the breadth of employers eager to engage with our University.

The metaverse space is made up of four main sections: a North and South stage, as well as East and West galleries. These sections contain information on careers, skills, apprenticeships, resources, culture and more. The East gallery even contains an area designated to Leeds Trinity University and what we have to offer.

Around 20 of our students were able to enter the metaverse, explore the virtual fair and engage with a number of employers and training opportunities to help support their career development.

This led to some excellent feedback from participants. MSc in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence student Danyella Glasgow who was blown away by Hundo’s innovative approach to recruitment and virtual work experience programs. Danyella also feels Hundo will be a game-changer for tackling inequalities as to how companies find and hire young talent from diverse backgrounds and beyond.

Hundo’s platform is centred around putting the young person first and utilises gamification to not only open students’ eyes to the plethora of opportunities available in the future of work, but ensuring they can easily equip themselves with the skills required to attain them. In a nutshell, Hundo makes what could seem difficult, both possible and achievable. It’s a win-win scenario for employers when mapping their future talent pipeline, and for schools to showcase the jobs of tomorrow in an experiential setting.

I thoroughly enjoyed the experience, and it was great to speak with students who also attended and hearing how much they loved it and how it can help with their future careers.

For those interested in entering the metaverse themselves, the space is available to be explored online via the Hundo website.

Helen Perkins is Employer Partnerships Coordinator at Leeds Trinity University.