Placement Employers To Be Recognised

The hunt is on to find the top 'placement employer'.

The University of Ulster has just opened nominations for the prestigious awards noting that the accolades are designed to recognise the contribution that employers have made to student development through work experience in the past 12 months.

Some of the country's top companies are to compete for the prizes and leaders of local and national enterprises will attend a gala ceremony at the Jordanstown campus in April.

There are six awards up for grabs in the categories of, Placement Employer of the Year Award (six months plus) - over 50 employees; Placement Employer of the Year Award (six months plus) - up to 50 employees; Public sector Placement Employer of the Year Award; Short-term Placement Employer of the Year Award; Placement Employer of the Year Award as nominated by an Ulster student; Placement Employer of the Year Award as nominated by a staff member.

Professor Denise McAlister, University Pro Vice Chancellor for Teaching and Learning, said: "The University of Ulster is recognised locally and nationally for its high quality professional and vocational education.

"Learning through work is a powerful tool for widening participation and employer engagement and addressing the regional and national governments’ agendas to improve skills and productivity in economically relevant subjects, in particular stem skills, and to maximise innovation, enterprise and creativity.

"Wherever possible we seek to offer our students co-terminous qualifications and opportunities to engage in work-based learning. As such the work-based learning partnerships that we have with employers is valued most highly by us and contributes significantly to the learning experience of our students and the employability of our graduates," she said.

Nominations for the awards can be made at www.pa.ulster.ac.uk and placement employers, placement students, and University of Ulster staff can nominate companies for the prizes.

The deadline for submissions is 1 February 2010 after which a shortlist of three nominations for each award category will be drawn up.

An expert panel representing industry and professional bodies and agencies will judge the awards.

Winners will be announced at a black tie ceremony on the evening of 22 April 2010 in the Loughview suite, Jordanstown Campus.

(BMcC/GK)