Attending the AI summit was a game-changer for our T Level students

When eight of our Media, Broadcast and Production T Level students walked into the Liverpool City Region AI Summit this October, they had a chance to fully immerse themselves in the future of their profession. Just six weeks into the academic year, these learners were asked to film and produce promotional content for a major event showcasing cutting-edge artificial intelligence. They were able to apply classroom learning in a live, high-pressure environment and see what it really means to be a digital professional.

This is exactly what T Levels were designed to deliver: industry-led experiences that build technical skills, confidence, and employability. But opportunities like this one don’t happen by accident. They require strong employer partnerships, staff who are ready to support students in unfamiliar settings, and a curriculum that keeps pace with industry change. Drawing on our local partnerships and employer connections, as well as support from organisations like the Education Training Foundation (ETF) through their T Level Professional Development (TLPD) offer for staff, has been invaluable in enabling us to create such learning experiences.

From classroom to conference floor

Our students’ brief was to create short videos to promote the AI Summit, capturing interviews, talks, and the energy of the event. They arrived with professional camera and audio kits, discussed their plan for the day with the event organiser, and then split into four production teams to get to work. They had practised using equipment in class, but this was their first real public-facing production.

Filming in a busy conference environment is not for the faint-hearted. Background noise, unpredictable lighting, and the need to adapt quickly to delegates’ preferences tested their technical and interpersonal skills. But this is exactly the kind of challenge that fosters learning. When students know their work will be seen by industry professionals and shared on social media, it becomes much more interesting and engaging for them. It becomes a portfolio piece for their CVs, as well as a huge confidence boost.

Building confidence

Naturally, many students were quite nervous in the lead up to the event – but on the day you wouldn’t have known it. They were working alongside the events company and liaising with the marketing team, asking intelligent questions and thinking on their feet. They had an opportunity to demonstrate their communication skills and wider employability skills as well as operating the technical equipment. This kind of confidence is the foundation for success in industry placements and beyond. Watching students grow in self-belief and develop these skills in the real world is one of the most rewarding aspects of teaching T Levels.

The feedback from the event organisers was overwhelmingly positive. For our students, that validation was really important. For the college, it reinforced our reputation for meaningful employer engagement. And for me, it confirmed that these experiences are worth every ounce of effort.

Delivering this kind of opportunity requires us as the teaching team to have the confidence and capability ourselves to make it work. Having taught media production for 23 years but never having delivered a T Level before, it’s been important for me to be able to access a range of flexible continuing professional development (CPD) opportunities in delivering T Levels, both as a teacher and a manager.

And it’s important for The City of Liverpool College’s delivery across our T Levels – not just media and digital, but construction, early years, engineering and manufacturing, and health – especially as we scale up from 120 T Level students in 2025 to 200 in 2026.

Keeping it current

As well as providing an opportunity to film, the AI Summit gave our students exposure to a sector that is reshaping the UK economy. They were able to see robots in action and hear delegates speaking about the future of AI. In terms of their own learning, the conference sparked conversations about how they might use AI ethically in creation, for example to support with the design of storyboards, and how to critique AI outputs.

We’ve already seen ripple effects following the conference, including the event organiser agreeing to deliver a couple of guest lectures in the new year. These kind of ongoing industry relationships are invaluable in keeping students connected to current industry practice throughout their course.

Paths to success

T Levels are ambitious – and demanding for providers as well as for students. But when we get students out there and experiencing the real world of work, the impact is profound. Examples like the AI Summit show what’s possible when we make the most of our partnerships and seize opportunities when they arise. Creating these experiences means we prepare young people not just with technical skills, but the full set of employability skills required to be a professional in their chosen field. As educators, our challenge is to keep creating these moments as we continue learning ourselves. When staff feel supported, we’re better equipped to help students feel inspired, and that opens up so many potential pathways and opportunities for their futures.

By Philip Milor, Deputy Head of School, Digital Academy, at The City of Liverpool College