North-South postgraduate scholarship scheme
Universities Ireland, which promotes collaboration between universities in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, and the Joint Business Council of the Confederation of British Industry (NI) and the Irish Business and Employers Confederation, which promotes North-South business cooperation, are offering scholarships to students undertaking a recognised masters or the first year of a PhD programme (taught or research) in the other Irish jurisdiction. Dublin Institute of Technology is also a partner in this scheme.
These scholarships are worth €15,000 (approx. Stg £14,000) each. The scholarships will be in areas of particular relevance to business and industry, and will be co-sponsored by Universities Ireland and two individual companies. These scholarships must be taken up for the academic year 2010-2011.
Pictured at the awards ceremony on 7 December were (l-r) Reg McCabe, JBC Chief Executive, Prof Richard Barnett, Vice Chancellor of University of Ulster, Andrew Hamilton, Deputy Secretary, Department of Employment and Learning, Brian Ambrose, Belfast City Airport and CBI Chairman, Bryan Mukandi, Deirdre McKenna, Anna Magee and Mairead Cantwell.
The aim of the scheme is to encourage outstanding students from the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland to cross the border to undertake postgraduate study and experience life in the other Irish jurisdiction. Because it is part-sponsored by business firms, there is a particular emphasis on subjects of interest to business, and the scheme aims to help build all-island innovation in STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) – along with business administration – which will be vital in moving the island towards the knowledge economy that is vital to its future prosperity.
The 2010 scheme will incorporate a graduate placement opportunity. The Export Orientation Programme (EOP), which is managed by IBEC, will coordinate this graduate placement. The EOP is the Republic of Ireland's longest-running and most successful graduate placement programme. It provides recent graduates and postgraduates with a valuable introduction to international business and competing in export markets.
The aim of this placement is to provide the scholarship winners with a unique opportunity to develop practical skills and to gain hands-on experience in a business environment relevant to their studies. Each placement will be tailored to ensure that the postgraduate gains exposure to all areas of the sponsoring business with a particular focus on the international element. This placement will be flexible and dynamic in nature.
Following completion of their postgraduate course and the three-month work placement, scholarships winners will have gained a greater understanding of what it takes to compete in the international business environment. The experience, skills and competencies gained through this initiative will significantly enhance the attractiveness of the postgraduate for future employment. Among the areas which will be of particular interest to sponsoring firms will be the following: ICT, finance, biotechnology, chemistry, food science, transport and logistics, business administration, planning engineering and environmental sciences, climate change and sustainability.
The closing date for applications will be Monday 17th May 2010 (5pm)
Further details on eligibility for the 2010 scheme are available here:
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Recipients of the 2009 postgraduate scholarships are:
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Mairéad Cantwell, a graduate of Trinity College Dublin, doing an MSc in Spatial Regeneration at Queen’s University Belfast. This scholarship was part-funded by RPS.
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Anna Magee, a graduate of University of Ulster, doing an MSc in Energy Management at Dublin Institute of Technology. This scholarship was part-funded by Dublin Port.
Universities Ireland North-South Masters scholarships were also presented to:
An awards ceremony was held on 7 December 2009 with Deputy Secretary of Department of Employment and Learning, Andrew Hamilton presenting the awards.
