Siddharth Pandey outside Bowes Museum, where he is helping to develop the computer systems

THE Bowes Museum is getting advice on its web applications from a Teesside University computing graduate.

Siddharth Pandey is acting as a software consultant at the Barnard Castle museum as part of a nine-month Knowledge Exchange Internship (KEI), which is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund.

The service – which is unique to Teesside University – is a shorter version of the Knowledge Transfer Partnership, which brings businesses together with graduates with a view to conducting research on innovative projects and practices.

Laura Woods, the university’s director of academic enterprise, said: “We know from experience that this type of intensive input works for both the company and the graduate. A KEI is ideal for a company needing expert help with a short-term project, perhaps to introduce new technology or new working practices. As well as a graduate on the staff, the company gets academic support to deliver its improvement programme.

“Longer-term programmes of this type are extremely successful, but they normally last for two or three years. We realised there was also a need for shorter schemes, such as this one, to help smaller companies.”

Bowes Museum’s head of finance, Richard Welsby, said the involvement of Pandey would “maximise the investment we are making in developing our website”. Siddharth arrived from India to complete the final year of his degree, and is currently living in Middlesbrough. He will graduate in November.

He said: “For me it’s a great opportunity for personal development. I’m looking at the computer systems used by the museum and how they might be redesigned. It’s great experience, as it involves project management, teamwork, consultancy and lots of opportunities to develop my skills and put into practice what I learned during my degree.”