Introducing new software engineering graduates to the 'real world' at the GPT company

A two-week full-time group project course for new graduate recruits at GEC-Plessey Telecommunications is examined. Role playing by the course leader and 'dirty tricks' simulate the 'real world' environment. The course is found to have advantages over corresponding undergraduate courses, as the restricted hours and full supervision tend to highlight the problems that occur and ensure the lessons of the course are more effectively learned. Suggestions are made as to how a university or polytechnic can partially overcome their lack of resources and gain some of the advantages of the GPT course. It is concluded that the benefits of realism and awareness obtained by the graduates mean that the GPT course will continue to be a worthwhile course, and that other companies may find it useful to incorporate such a course into their own training programmes.