The Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) will be represented at Saturday night’s Athlone Chamber of Commerce Business awards at the Athlone Springs Hotel, with the Industry Placement Programme at the Department of Business and Management nominated for the Community Programme of the Year.
This nomination recognises the programme’s outstanding contributions to the local business community and highlights the collaboration between the Technological University of the Shannon and the business community in Athlone.
Dr Alison Sheridan, Head of Department of Business and Management at TUS Athlone, said she was honoured by the nomination: “It reflects the hard work of our department, students and partners who are dedicated to making a positive difference in the local business landscape. We believe that education and community collaboration are the foundations of sustainable growth for the region.”
The Industry Placement Programme – which offers students 20 weeks with local businesses and non-profit organisations such as Ericsson, Radisson Hotel, Pieta House and Athlone Credit Union – has been active for seven years, enabling the University to build strong ties with business, while addressing community needs and providing students with hands-on experience.
When developing this programme, the University worked directly with industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and local employers, to develop a placement programme that addresses both student career development and the specific workforce needs of the regional economy.
Dr Sheridan said: “As a Technological University, TUS is strongly committed to incorporating applied learning opportunities for students in a variety of ways throughout their studies. The Business Placement Programme creates a win-win scenario for both the students and employers. Students typically return to their final year programmes as highly competent business professionals with hands-on experience and from these interactions, businesses gain fresh perspectives and cutting-edge knowledge that students bring.”
This alliance between the university and industry stakeholders, that has seen over 200 complete the programme thus far, is poised to grow even stronger in the coming years as the programme evolves to meet industry’s changing needs.
