Postgraduate students sign up for challenging summer projects
Spending the summer working on a real-life project for a top company can be the first step in a successful career. Postgraduate students reaching the end of their taught masters programmes in analytical subjects at the University of Southampton spent a morning trying to impress senior staff from a wide range of companies, who were all offering places on three month summer projects.
The students of Business Analytics and Management Sciences (BAMS), Operational Research and Finance could sign up for interviews for one of more than 40 opportunities from companies and organisations as diverse as the Automobile Association, Lloyds Banking Group, Tesco, Ford and the National Health Service.
BAMS student Shahab Hashemi says “It’s been a great experience talking to people from so many companies but I’m particularly interested in working with either Lloyds or Boeing. It’s also a good chance for us to practise our interview technique.” Fellow BAMS student Kateryna Zakharova from the Ukraine was not sure which career path to follow so signed up for seven interviews in areas including insurance, banking and health. “Data analysis is important in many companies, so I have spoken to several people today about their opportunities,” she says.
The three month summer project enables students to put management theory into practice by working on a real-life assignment with a leading company, some of the challenges are even based overseas. Sponsoring companies frequently come back year after year to offer projects.
Companies taking part in the Open Day were delighted at the chance to meet so many skilled and motivated students. Astrid Davies from the Isle of Wight Council wanted someone to analyse data for the island’s Youth Offending Team. “I knew the potential of the University of Southampton’s masters students but I was very impressed today,” she says. “I told the students I met that their work on this project will make a difference to the lives of young people on the Isle of Wight, it’s very worthwhile.” Alex Nock from Red Engineering design was interested to speak to students interested in project covering Combined Heat and Power (CHP) systems and energy audits. He is a graduate of the Management Sciences and Finance programme himself. Companies were also offering places for the first time: “We were really impressed by the calibre of students and will definitely be back next year!” says Kimberly O’Brien from Ageas50 in Bournemouth.
The summer placements are organised by Dr Ian Rowley ( i.t.rowley@soton.ac.uk ) and Gillian Groom ( g.groom@soton.ac.uk ) at the Southampton Management School. “Our summer projects scheme has been running successfully for over 10 years now,” says Ian. “It is a great way for businesses to get some analytical work done and for students to learn to apply their skills in practice.”