The achievements of the University's 2017 summer interns were recognised at this week's Aberdeen Internship Presentation Event, celebrating the conclusion of the annual Aberdeen Internships.
This summer, 13 University of Aberdeen undergraduate students completed ten-week summer placements in professional services departments, raising the number of Aberdeen students who have been “Aberdeen Interns” to over 115. An integrated professional development programme also enables Interns to develop the University’s Aberdeen Graduate Attributes, with a key emphasis on communication and presentation skills.
The 2017 cohort delivered presentations of their work at the event, which took place in the Old Senate Room on 23 August 2017, showcasing how their projects have helped them achieve the Aberdeen Graduate Attributes. Around 60 guests attended the event and were invited to vote for the best presentation. This was awarded to Salla Sigvart, for her project entitled “Enhancing students' learning experience by contributing to the development of MyAberdeen and associated learning technologies” within the e-learning team of the Centre for Academic Development. Salla is about to enter her final year studying MA (Hons) Film and Visual Culture. The “Highly Commended” poster was awarded to Rosa Uusikyla, also entering her final year of MA (Hons) Management/Sociology for her project, “Learners’ Toolkit Student Engagement” within IT Services.
Previous Aberdeen Interns – and now graduate Alumni - are now working in a range of roles, in diverse locations including Cape Town, Finland, London, Manchester, and Ireland. A 2012 Aberdeen Intern has, this summer, been appointed to the role of Research and Project Officer (Foreign and Commonwealth) for The Household of TRH The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall.
Heather Crabb, Executive Assistant to the University Secretary, presented all the Interns with Certificates of Achievement.
She said: ““The Aberdeen Internship programme offers students a valuable career enhancing opportunity, complementing their academic studies with the opportunity to gain a valuable insight into the University’s business and processes. On behalf of the University, I would like to congratulate the 2017 Interns on their tremendous achievements and wish them every success in their final year of study.”
Peter Fantom, Head of the Careers Service, commented: “I am extremely proud of the Aberdeen Internship. Those who take part undertake a programme of professional development, which concentrates on developing and articulating key employability skills, which are highly sought by graduate employers.”
The success of the Aberdeen Internship will be followed by the return of the InternPlus initiative, providing part-time placement opportunities between November 2017 and June 2018 for undergraduate students expecting to graduate in 2019/2020.
Full details will be available from the Careers Service from 28 August 2017 –contact Rhona Gibson for further information.