15th October 2007

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Five young business leaders of tomorrow have been honoured at the University of Ulster’s 2007 Business and Management Placement Innovation Awards ceremony.

Each received a prize of £300 for their contribution to driving innovation and excellence in Ireland’s business community, North and South.

Projects ranged from developing an innovative communications strategy for a local enterprise development initiative to customer focused process improvement in the manufacturing sector, as well as marketing initiatives in tourism.

The overall award went to Aisling O’Neill of Bangor, who is studying for a BSc in Business Studies with Computing at the Coleraine Campus.

As part of her studies, Aisling completed her placement year in the Dublin offices of the global corporation BISYS, working in the Hedge Fund Services Division as an operator of the fund accounting system.

During her time with BISYS, Aisling saw the need for a bespoke accounting system training manual to support new employees and took her idea to the company training team. BISYS, who train many new employees each year, saw the potential in the idea and worked closely with Aisling during its development. 

A delighted Aisling said: “ I really loved my placement, and really learned a lot from it.  It helped me mature. I was involved in finance work – but it wasn’t all facts and figures and sitting in front of a computer: there was a great atmosphere and social life at the company, too. It was just a great place to work in.  And I might be going back to them when I finish Uni – I hope!”

Aisling’s placement employer Michael Doyle acknowledged the support provided by the enterprising student.

“Aisling has produced a valued reference source that will be established as a company wide training manual – her innovation and dedication are highly commendable”

Building hands-on business experience is at the core of the University of Ulster’s business education and engagement strategy, according to Professor Robert Hutchinson, Dean of the Faculty of Business and Management, Northern Ireland’s Business School.

“Placements are a core feature ofour undergraduate programmes, they offer exciting opportunities for students and our business partner.  Students enhance their skills and gain tremendously from working in the business environment.  These awards also showcase the significant benefits that placement students can bring to their employers – and I am delighted to be able to celebrate their success.”

The aim of the Placement Innovation Competition is not only to celebrate student success, but also to emphasise the additional benefits business placements bring to both employers and students, according to Dr Adele Dunn, a placement tutor from the Faculty.

“Our prize winners have maximised their opportunities during placement and working in conjunction with their supervisors from business and academia have made a difference in their workroles.  These examples emphasise the benefits to be gained from all those involved in the placement partnership.”

Placement is an integral part ofthe Faculty of Business and Management activities with 360 students placed in industry over the last year. Speaking of the value of placement, Mr John Thompson the Faculty of Business and Management academic enterprise co-ordinator said:

“Industrial placement is often our first point of contact with business, the placement innovation competition provides an excellent opportunity to extend this working relationship into other areas.”

 

The full list of award winners and their placements is:

Lisa-Marie Hanna (Coalisland): Step-Up, Access and Educational Partnerships, UU

Ashley Loughrey (Coleraine): Belfast Zoo

Sharon O’Hagan (Cookstown): Cookstown Panel Centre Ltd

Aisling O’Neill (Bangor):  BISYS,Dublin

Claire Magennis (Belfast): Belfast City Council

 

ENDS 

 

For further information, please contact:

David Young
Telephone: 028 90366074
Email: David Young