5th November 2013

Swansea University – Offering bespoke business support via access to postgraduates

 

The Access to Masters (ATM) scheme aims to find projects for Postgraduate Students which are connected and pertinent to industry.

 

ATM is backed with £12.3 million from the Convergence European Social Fund (ESF) through the Welsh Government. The scheme delivers a range of Masters level courses to the future workforce creating a direct link with the workplace via work placements. Masters students are given the opportunity to apply their high level skills via a ‘real-life’ setting in key industry and business sectors. Consequently, this interface enhances the students’ chances of gaining employment in the future.

 

The ATM scheme is a great mechanism to drive forward innovative and bespoke business projects. The project is a 16 week boost of skills, research and knowhow that commences in June 2014. The project can be scoped out in advance of June 2014 with input from an appropriate academic supervisor. The company will also be given the opportunity to meet and select the student in advance if required.

 

The host company does not pay the student for their work because under the ATM scheme the student receives a full bursary. The only commitment required is a contribution of £1,000 in-kind which is calculated from the time spent mentoring the student throughout the duration of the project. Each student is assigned an academic mentor/supervisor who ensures that the project is on track in terms of deliverables and ensures that the project meets academic requirements for a Masters’ dissertation.

 

In addition to the above, during and after the project phase, the participating company builds connections with the academic supervisors and the ATM project team and ultimately this enhances confidence in returning to the University for support when another business challenge presents itself. Access to Masters may not be suitable for all the strategic/research requirements of a company however; it is a conduit that facilitates business-university collaborations.

 

This year Swansea University has 100 Masters Students undertaking a wide range of courses within the following colleges: Engineering; Medicine; Arts and Humanities; Business, Economics and Law. Our 2013-2014 cohort of students are looking for projects that link closely within the following sectors: Advanced Materials and Manufacturing; Creative Industries; Energy and Environment; Financial and Professional Services; Information and Communication Technologies; Life Sciences; Construction and Tourism.

 

If you have a suitable project in mind and would like to discuss the possibility of working with one of our ATM students please can you register your interest with Beverley Guess via email and she will get in touch with you to discuss your requirements in more detail.

 

Miss Beverley M Guess

Industrial Liaison Officer

College of Engineering

KESS & ATM

Swansea University

Talbot Building

Room 55

Singleton Park

Swansea

SA2 8PP

 

Tel: 01792 513460

 

Email: B.M.Guess@swansea.ac.uk

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/beverleyguess

Website: (College of Engineering) http://www.swan.ac.uk/engineering/

Website: (Access to Masters) http://www.higherskillswales.co.uk/atm/

Website: (Knowledge Economy Skills Scholarships) http://www.higherskillswales.co.uk/kess/