24 February, 2022

MTU is shortlisted in four categories at this year’s Education Awards, and all involve external engagement!

The annual awards recognise and celebrate excellence in the third level education sector and take place on Wednesday 6th of April.

MTU’s School of Business Work Placement features in the Career Impact Strategy Award category. Each year an average of 450 students are placed with approximately 260 organisations nationally and internationally, resulting in increased numbers of students securing graduate positions as a direct consequence of placement.

Dr Breda Kenny, Head of School of Business, said the nomination is a fitting endorsement of the beneficial partnerships developed between MTU staff and host companies, and the value of Work Placement to MTU students and graduates.

MTU Cork Campuses Careers Service and Disability Support Services (DSS) are nominated for their partnership with DELL Technologies on the Ready Steady Work career development programme in the Best Business & Third Level Institution Collaboration category.

Ready Steady Work is a tailored, innovative, career development program designed and delivered to meet the needs of students with access to the university’s disability support service. The program aims to build confidence and empower students to successfully transition from college to professional life. DELL staff work with the Careers Service and the DSS to deliver talks and workshops, along with one-to-one sessions covering CV review and interview practice. In 2021 programme won the Higher Education Award at the Cork Celebrates Lifelong Learning Awards. 

And finally, MTU Arts Office has been shortlisted in two award categories. The first is Student Engagement & Communication in which the Arts Office and AnSEO (Student Engagement Office) collaborated on the Student Engagement Exhibition Award, featuring a series of artist profile videos exploring diverse and inclusive themes and offering insights into their creative making process.

The COVID-19 Crisis Response category acknowledges CONNECT Le Chéile, developed by the Arts Office to support MTU staff in continuing arts practices and creating 19 arts-based projects. The initiative established new connections across MTU campuses and with external partners while affording accessible opportunities to engage with and through the arts. External partners in these various projects included Crawford Art Gallery; Cork Midsummer Festival; Cork City Council; ACE Agritech Centre of Excellence; Dingle Literary Festival; Windmill Lane Recording Studios; Road Books; and independent arts professionals.

We wish all the nominees the best of luck!

If you feel your organisation could benefit from a collaboration with MTU students, lecturers or researchers email the Extended Campus at extended.campusCork@mtu.ie to explore your options.

Check out our database of case studies, illustrating previous important industry partnerships by clicking here.

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