Student work placements are valuable to design

As a student, I am pleased to see that someone is looking out for us. Ibrahim Ibrahim’s article (DW 30 March) gave me new hope for the future of design education.

Placements are extremely difficult to come by and paid ones are even scarcer.

Many students are forced to take unpaid placements in order to gain experience, thereby putting them under further financial pressure.

Graduates are finding it increasingly difficult to find employment without experience, so support from the industry would have a positive impact on the future of design.

I only hope that some of the points raised by Ibrahim are considered by relevant parties in the industry, so that more can be done to help students gain the practical experience they desperately need.

Sara Goscombe, MA Design management student, University of Central England, Birmingham