Tag: student experience

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Careers programmes

Students work with industry experts to suggest climate change solutions

real world challenge climate change
real world challenge climate change

We held the Real-World Challenge, Climate Change event hosted by PwC in their Belfast office at Merchant Square on 20 February 2025.

It was an exciting opportunity for the students who took part to hear from industry experts and join a team to tackle the real-world problem of climate change and what is currently being done in Northern Ireland to reduce emissions and produce a greener place to live, all while developing key employability skills!

A presentation was given by Professor John Barry, and we also hosted some Café Conversations with external speakers, who were, Melanie Thrush, Senior Engineer, geotechnical team, ARUP, Claire Shortt, Belfast City Council, Amy Bell, Acting Climate NI Manager, Climate Northern Ireland, Jason Calvert, Director in Economics Consulting, PwC, and John McCann, Estates Manager – Environmental, Queen’s University Belfast.

It was a busy, and fulfilling programme for the students who took part, and it gave them a chance to use their critical thinking skills to come up with some positive solutions to an important topic and an opportunity to interact with a broad range of students from across Queen’s.

Big thanks to everyone who took part!

Hitesh Gidwani, MSc Finance Student Queen’s University Belfast.

Had an eye-opening experience at the Real-World Challenge hosted by PwC, where we tackled climate change solutions alongside industry experts and students from across Queen’s!

One of the most thought-provoking tasks? Creating “The Best & Worst Newspaper Headlines of 2050.”

 “Are you breathing or gasping for air? It’s official—humanity is ending… (Pay $5000 to read full article)”

A dark yet satirical take on how human greed persists even when survival is at stake. Will we let our planet deteriorate to a point where clean air becomes a luxury? Or will we take action today?

Gained valuable insights from expert speakers.

 Collaborated with an amazing team to brainstorm real-world solution.

Realized how even small daily actions can create a massive impact.

3 Simple Steps YOU Can Take Today to Fight Climate Change:

1️. Ditch plastic bottles – Carry a reusable one!

2.  Rethink fast fashion. The fashion industry causes 10% of global carbon emissions. Buying 1 second-hand outfit instead of new reduces waste, pollution, and guilt. (Plus, vintage is cooler anyway.)

3. Sort your waste like your life depends on it. Because, well… it kinda does. Landfills release methane, which is 25x worse than CO₂. Proper recycling = less toxic air = fewer “gasping for air” headlines.

The future is still in our hands. Will we change the headline before it’s too late?

Big thanks to PwC UK, Careers Queen’s University Belfast, and all Lynsey Foster for this incredible opportunity! Looking forward to more impactful experiences ahead.

Lynsey Foster, Employer Engagement Team, Careers, Queen’s University Belfast

We  hosted our Real-World Challenge, Climate Change event in PwC’s beautiful Merchant Square offices. Taking a multidisciplinary approach, the students considered what is currently being done in NI to reduce emissions and become a greener place to live.

We welcomed several external speakers who joined our discussions and shared what their organisations are currently doing to tackle the climate emergency.

It was a very inspiring day with a lot of great takeaways! Thanks to each of our speakers for joining us and having some great discussions with our students – John Barry, Amy Bell, Melanie Thrush, Jason Calvert, John McCann, and Claire Shortt.

A big thank you to Abigail Darwent and the PwC team for hosting us and to Climate Northern Ireland, Arup, Belfast City Council.

Find out more about the Real-World Challenge Climate Change. https://go.qub.ac.uk/realworldchallenge

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Careers programmes

Experience life studying abroad in Utrecht

utrecht
utrecht

Hear from Queen’s student, Liana Mac Intyre about her study abroad opportunity in Utrecht. Take it away Liana…

“Spending a summer studying in Utrecht was one of the best decisions I made during my time at Queen’s. If you’re thinking about a short-term study abroad programme, I can’t recommend it enough.“

“You get to experience life in a new city, meet people from all over the world, and develop a deeper understanding on your chosen course topic. Looking back, my time in Utrecht gave me a deeper appreciation of Europe and the EU, not just as a political project, but as a space shaped by shared history, culture, and ideas.”

“I took part in the European Politics and Economy summer school at Utrecht University. Given my interest in politics and history and my desire to pursue a career in diplomacy, I wanted to better understand how the EU functions, especially from the perspective of a country that has deep historical ties to it. The course was an intense but rewarding mix of lectures, debates, and excursions. We covered everything from the institutional structure of the EU to its economic policies, and we had the chance to apply our knowledge in discussions on real-world issues like Brexit, trade agreements, and the future of the European Union.”

“One of the highlights was visiting The Hague, where we discussed the role of institutions like the International Court of Justice. Furthermore, we had the chance to visit the Mauritshuis Museum where we saw the famous Girl with a Pearl Earring painting!”

Beyond the academic side of things, Utrecht itself was an incredible place to live for a few weeks. The city has a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere, and cycling everywhere quickly became second nature.

“Afternoons were spent by the canals, and evenings often ended in one of the city’s many bars, chatting with other students from across Europe. The international mix of people on the course made for some fascinating conversations- everyone brought their own perspective, and it was refreshing to step outside of the UK and see things through a different lens. Due to its close proximity, my new friends and I were able to take a trip to Amsterdam at the weekend which was a great bonus to this amazing trip!”

“If you’re on the fence about doing a summer school, my advice is: go for it!“

“It’s a brilliant way to broaden your academic and personal horizons, all while having a great time in a new city. Utrecht, with its mix of history, culture, and student-friendly vibe, is the perfect place to do it.”

Find out more about study abroad opportunities at Utrecht https://go.qub.ac.uk/utrechtsummerschool

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Careers programmes

The Future is Bright with a Queen’s Future-Ready Award!

Congratulations to our Future-Ready Award students receiving their awards at Winter graduation 2024!

Hear from Varshitha Manjunath, (pictured above), who is a Queen’s PGT student who graduated in December 2024 with a Master of Science in International Business, and an impressive NINE Future-Ready Award accreditations. Well done Varshitha!

“The Future-Ready Award enabled me to reflect on the diverse range of activities I participated in, including leadership roles, volunteer work, and practical experiences like the Think Pacific Remote Internship. By engaging in initiatives such as the Real-World Consultancy Programme and Prestige Volunteers, I was able to identify key skills I developed, such as teamwork, effective communication, and problem-solving. For example, my involvement in Homework Clubs highlighted my ability to mentor and support others, while Handy Helpers (SU) refined my organizational and time-management skills. These activities provided a structured platform to assess and appreciate the breadth of my personal and professional growth.” 

In semester one 2024, Careers, Employability & Skills celebrated 444 unique students gaining the Future- Ready Award, including single and combined routes as well as an increase in work experience accreditations. 

The award enables you to articulate your learning and signals to employers that you have developed essential skills required to succeed in the workplace and is open to all Queen’s undergraduate and postgraduate students. 

We have over 100 accredited activities available to search on our activity search tool and there are three different ways to achieve the award, single route activity, combined route activity, and the work experience route. Full details on this and the list of accredited activities can be found on the Future-Ready Award website.

Applications open for the Future-Ready Award summer applications open on 20 December 2024 and close at midnight on 01 March 2025.  

Find out all about the award at go.qub.ac.uk/futurereadyaward  

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Careers programmes

Students Tackle Real-World Problems Using Design Thinking

real-world consultancy programme

May 2024 saw the return of our interactive Real-World Consultancy Programme, with students  gaining  a different type of work experience by providing a consultancy service to real clients and working on a real challenge that those clients face.

The Queen’s University Belfast  students from different disciplines were  facilitated through a Design Thinking process to resolve the client’s problem with hosts Patricia Flanagan and Michaelle Dolan of Rejig.

The students applied the design thinking process, tools and mindset to live challenges provided by companies including, Aflac Northern Ireland, BDO Northern Ireland, Gig Grafter Limited, KPMG Ireland, The Phoenix Education Centre, and SureCert.

The busy and interactive programme ran over four days and provided a great opportunity for students to develop highly valued Design Thinking skills prior to them going on to take up a placement, internship or a graduate role.

A massive thank you to Patricia Flanagan and Michelle Dolan of Rejig for coming in to the host the programme, to our Careers Consultant Ludovica Piccinini for overseeing the programme, and to all the employer partners and our amazing students who took part, making this year’s programme a resounding success.

We are already looking forward to Real-World Consultancy 2025.

Below is some feedback from employers and students who participated on the programme.

Thanks to Ludovica Piccinini and Patricia Durkin for the invite to the Careers, Employability and Skills at Queen’s University Belfast Real World Consultancy Programme.

It was great to spend some time at Queen’s University Belfast this week with a team of highly talented students that attempted to resolve a KPMG Ireland business challenge focused on corporate citizenship.

Well done to all the participants and a special shout out to Michael, Majd, Lauren, Ruth and Muhammad for their efforts on our challenge this week (expertly stretched by Patricia Flanagan and Michelle Dolan as always!).

Paul Braden, KPMG, Ireland

Recently, I had the pleasure of taking part in the 2024 cohort of QUB’s Real World Consultancy Programme. This programme allowed me to work in teams with individuals from diverse disciplines with the end goal of providing consultancy services to real life clients.

My team was partnered up with Emma Shaw from Phoenix Education Centre. Emma alerted us to the challenges she was facing and gave us feedback and valuable guidance throughout the process. As a group we came up with innovative ideas to mitigate against these challenges and provided solutions and recommendations that could potentially be implemented by Emma.

Many thanks to Patricia Flanagan and Michelle Dolan for your valuable guidance throughout the program and enabling us to utilise our imagination to obtain useful solutions.

Amith Varghese, Queen’s University Belfast MSc International Business student

Recently, I took part in the Real-World Consultancy Program ran by Careers Queen’s University Belfast. My group got the chance to tackle a real-life problem presented to us by Aflac Northern Ireland; “How Might We Develop Future Tech Talent in NI.” Our group came up with innovative solutions after being introduced to a new way of thinking “Design Thinking” developed by Stanford University. I thoroughly enjoyed working with Deivydas Sakys, Shubham Soni & Akinyemi Folasewa and a huge thank you to Isabel Stacey & Jason Brennan from Aflac Northern Ireland who helped us throughout the week.

Paddy Latimer, Queen’s University Belfast, International Business with Spanish student

This immersive 4-day program equipped us with ”Design Thinking”, a problem-solving approach developed by Stanford University. Patricia Flanagan and Michelle Dolan guided us through the process.

The program was a series of incredibly interactive sessions with dozens of fun activities that fostered invaluable knowledge about design thinking. We learned the importance of stepping outside our comfort zones, fostering group creativity, and embracing empathy.

The program instilled valuable skills in storytelling, identifying key concepts like divergence and convergence, and the importance of inclusion. It also highlighted the power of reformation, building connections, and empathetic listening. Overall, this program provided an exceptional platform to apply our knowledge and prepare us for the professional world.

Riya Anandpara,  Queen’s University Belfast MSc Marketing student
Categories
Careers programmes

Top Law Programme back for 2024

spotlight on law

Our popular Spotlight On Law programme made a return in semester 2 of 2024.

Comprising two-days of in-person workplace visits to local and global law firms based in Belfast, the programme gave students an opportunity to:

  • Take part in case studies, workshops, panels and legal skills sessions
  • Hear from barristers and solicitors from a variety of practice areas
  • Get tips from recruiters on getting hired by a top law firm
  • Practical career knowledge on internships, placements, vacation schemes and training contracts.
  • Gain a Future-Ready Award.

The programme participants were a mix of Queen’s University Belfast Law students and students from other disciplines within Queen’s. They visited a number of Law firms during the programmes including, A&L Goodbody LLP, Tughans LLP, Fieldfisher LLP, Lewis Silkin, and Factor.

After the Law firm visits, the programme culminated with a Panel Event and Networking Session at One Elmwood, where students heard from more experts across the legal field who gave insights into their own career journeys, including, Arthur Cox NI, Departmental Solicitors Office, Herbert Smith Freehills, The Law Society of Northern Ireland of NI, Phoenix Law (Human Rights Lawyers), and TLT LLP.
 
The networking that followed provided a good opportunity for our students to connect with numerous law firms and potential employers, including TLT LLP, A&L Goodbody LLP, Phoenix Law, Arthur Cox, the Departmental Solicitors Office, and Fieldfisher.
 
A massive thank you to our partners at Queen’s School of Law and to all the employer partners and our students who made this year’s tour a resounding success. We are already looking forward to 2025’s programme.

Below is some feedback from students who participated in the tour.

What an incredible start to the 2024 Careers in Law Insight Programme! A heartfelt thank you to everyone at A&L Goodbody LLP for hosting us today. The session on commercial awareness and the firm’s CSR initiatives was not only informative but truly inspiring. It was also a pleasure to meet and learn from Queen’s Careers staff, Terry O’ Hanlon, Phil Wren, and Mark Gallagher. Your dedication to fostering student employability and skills development is evident and greatly appreciated.

Rushikesh Ravindra, Queen’s Law and Technology student

A special thanks to Queen’s Careers staff Terry O’ Hanlon, Mark Gallagher and Phil Wren for putting this tour together, it has made a massive impact on my decision to enter the law industry. As a student from outside the school of law, I cannot recommend this tour enough if you are considering a career in the legal industry. This tour has opened my eyes on the opportunities available to me as a non-law student.  
 

Jake Dodds, Queen’s History Undergraduate

The tour closed with a panel event and networking session at the QUB One Elmwood building, where we had the privilege of learning from some key members of the legal landscape in Belfast, each offering a unique and invaluable perspective on the journey into a career in law.

Rebecca Carlin, Queen’s LLB Law student

Find out about the Spotlight on Law Tour at https://go.qub.ac.uk/spotlightonlaw

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Europe Go Global Student experience student success Student success stories

Study Exchange at Utrecht University, Netherlands

Flag of the netherlands flying

Grace McSorley is a final year student who had the opportunity to attend a placement at Utrecht University in the Netherlands. Here is what she had to say about her time there!

“Recently I had the opportunity to complete a study abroad placement in Utrecht University in the Netherlands, and it was an amazing experience. The course, ‘Exploring Data through Culture’, was a great learning opportunity and it provided me with the chance to learn several new softwares, whilst equipping me with a range of new data skills and techniques.

One of the highlights was the chance to work alongside a brilliant group of students and lecturers from across the world. The team collaboration was fantastic, and together we presented a research project investigating the rise of Chat GPT and natural language processing AI within education. The insights, skills and experiences I have gained from the Summer School will be invaluable as I commence my final year of university.

A massive thank you to the Careers Queen’s University Belfast Global Opportunities Team for funding and organising the programme, and also to the team at Utrecht Data School for making this experience possible. #UtrechtSummerSchool“

Fancy studying in the Netherlands? We are offering up to £1,400 in funding for approx. 40 full time Queen’s Undergraduate students to complete a Utrecht Summer School Course in the Netherlands – closing date for applications for 2024 is 04 March 2024 at 12 noon.
Find our more about Utrecht Summer School courses places on our Utrecht Summer School web page.

Find out about Study Exchanges in Europe and Search for all global opportunities on our Go Global Search Tool

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Careers programmes

It’s not what you know, It’s who you know

Luckily for you, we have a hotline to powerful recruiters across a range of industries and sectors, and we are committed to helping you make key introductions.

Many employers hire graduates that they already know, and you’ll have plenty of opportunity to meet employers on campus through Careers Fairs, employer panels and industry workshops.

Find opportunities to suit you

Whether you are looking for a funded summer internship, a short-term, real-world work project, or to road test a career with work shadowing, we can help you put what you’ve learned on your course into practice, enhancing your CV and graduate prospects. We source and promote employer vacancies and work-related learning opportunities through MyFuture, Queen’s early career management platform. This intuitive system allows you to filter your job search by industry, job function and course. You can also set up job alerts which are sent directly to your student email. There is even a handy app – think of it as Tinder for jobs!

Careers Fairs on Campus

Our Careers Fairs take place on campus twice a year in October and February offering the opportunity to connect in-person with employers offering work experience, placement and graduate opportunities.

We also run the NI Graduate and Recruitment Fair in partnership with Ulster University once a year before summer graduation for final year students and recent graduates.

Ask us About

  • Careers Fairs
  • Employer Events
  • Business Games and Challenges
  • Funded Employer
  • Projects and Internships Opportunities.
  • Work Shadowing Opportunities
  • The Local Job Market
  • Student Mentoring
  • Student Enterprise and
  • Consultancy Opportunities
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Careers programmes

Using the Future-Ready Roadmap

The Future-Ready Roadmap can help you to develop new skills, explore the right opportunities, build your support network and gain the confidence to realise your ambitions. It’s a framework designed to help you progress your employability throughout your time at Queen’s. Everything we offer is clearly linked to the Roadmap so you can see where your gaps are, chart your progress and plan your future.

DISCOVER

Understand what employability is and combine this understanding with self-awareness to identify your strengths and areas for development.

EXPLORE

Our events and programmes are designed to help you try new things, meet new people and build relevant skills and experience, both at home and overseas.

PREPARE

This phase is all about helping you recognise your potential and understanding how to promote yourself and your skills. Whether applying for part-time work, an internship or a graduate job, we support you through every stage of the recruitment process.

REALISE

Once you know a bit more about your goals, we help you plan how to achieve them. From connecting you with key employers to offering access to graduate and placement opportunities in your target sector, we’ll develop you into a future-ready graduate.

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Careers programmes

Welcome to Careers, Employability and Skills

Did you know: Queen’s has the highest percentage (92%) of graduates in employment and further study among Russell Group Universities including Oxford and Cambridge.

As a Queen’s student, we are the secret weapon you need to reach your full potential. Why? Many students leave university assuming their degree certificate is enough to get them where they want to be. But employers want more than the right degree: they are looking for all-rounders with transferable skills like teamwork, communication and critical thinking. These skills can’t be learned in a textbook. This is where we come in.

Firstly, we know employers and the skills they are looking for. What’s more, we can help you develop the most in-demand skills that will unlock exciting opportunities for you. Whether it’s learning from leaders in Boston, completing an employer challenge in Belfast or networking with the tech community in Berlin, we can give you access to powerful experiences that will stay with you. Crucially, we will work with you to sell those skills effectively on your CV or in a future interview – turbo boosting your employability.

No idea where your future lies? We’ll teach you to lean into the power of uncertainty and of staying flexible. We’ll help you use your time at university. to road test a range of career opportunities and help you figure out which direction is right for you. If you challenge yourself to keep an open mind and look at fresh perspectives, we’ll help you improve, grow in confidence and be the best that you can be whatever success looks like for you.

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Careers programmes

Future-Ready Award

The Future-ready Award is an employability award that allows you to gain formal recognition and a certificate for the extracurricular experience you gain during your time at Queen’s.

You can gain this award by completing an accredited activity.

Added to a CV, the award signals to a potential employer that you have worked hard to develop the skills you need to succeed in the workplace, and enables you to better articulate your skills and experience. In addition, the award gives you the opportunity to receive a certificate at graduation, on top of your degree, with the achievement verified on your QSIS Student Record.

Get Involved, Get Rewarded

We have over 100 accredited activities available.

These include extracurricular work experiences, community and voluntary work, Global Opportunities to work or study abroad, as well as early professional development activities.

Layer Your Skills

From trips to China and the USA to employer-led challenges, there are so many fun and rewarding activities for you to get involved in on campus.

Tailor Your Award

You can complete an activity (or more than one activity), at any time, fitting them in alongside your studies and tracking your Higher Education Achievement Record (HEAR) progress via QSIS.

Added Value

Taking part in the award is free of charge, (although some activities might have costs involved), and allows you to add valuable skills and experience to your CV all while having fun, making new friends or travelling abroad.