Members of staff from each School, as well as employer partners and student nominees and guests were in attendance. The event started with a drinks reception, and the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Nick Jennings, welcomed everyone and kicked off the formal proceedings. This was followed by a formal dinner and awards ceremony hosted by the Pro-Vice Chancellor (Education and Student Experience), Professor Rachel Thomson.
The awards are held to recognise students’ achievements during their time on placement, study abroad exchange, year in enterprise or an internship at the University.
The nominees worked across a range of organisations, both large and small, national, and international and public and private sector. This included organisations such as BMW, CERN, deVere Group, Dyson, Felstone Consulting Limited, Goodyear Dunlop Tyres, IBM, Leicestershire Police, Network Rail, Pfizer, and Puma.
The winners across the ten categories were as follows:
- Undergraduate international placement (placement based outside the UK) – Matthew Lambros
- Undergraduate placement in a private sector SME – Poppy Stevens
- Undergraduate placement in a large private sector organisation – Daniel Addy
- Undergraduate placement in the public/third sector – Joshua Gray
- Undergraduate study abroad exchange – Abi Brown-Stark
- Year in enterprise – Jamie Clark
- Postgraduate placement – Falguni Udeshi Chavan
- Future Talent – David Oloyede
- Micro Internship – Siyan Li
- Finalist Internship – Isabelle Finlay
Every year, close to 2,000 undergraduate students undertake a year-long placement and study abroad exchanges in over 40 different countries. The University has consistently supported one of the largest cohorts of students undertaking work placements in the UK over the last five years.
More information and advice on undertaking a placement can be viewed online.