Academics Case Studies
University of Strathclyde
Barbara Graham, Director Careers Service comments on the iaeste programme:
The University of Strathclyde’s Careers Service recommends the IAESTE exchange programme to our science and engineering students as a superb means of enhancing both their relevant technical work experience and their cross-cultural awareness. Students who have benefited from a placement through IAESTE are the best ambassadors for the programme. On their return they display a noticeable increase in confidence and they have accumulated a range of experiences which they can use to demonstrate to employers their transferable skills, flexibility and ability to work effectively with people from diverse backgrounds.
So keen have Strathclyde students been after returning from placements that they have established, on their own initiative, a local IAESTE student committee to publicise these opportunities to other students and to welcome students from overseas who come to Strathclyde on placement. This speaks volumes about how much they value IAESTE and want to spread the good news to others.
The organisation of the programme is excellent, run by a highly professional co-ordinator, who keeps us well informed about all aspects of the scheme and in whom we have complete confidence. Working together, we have seen a significant increase in both our students going overseas and the number of students for whom placements have been arranged here at Strathclyde.
An additional benefit to the university is the hard working students that they receive to work on current research. Indeed, based on their placements at Strathclyde a number have decided to embark on PhDs at the university. Dr David Carus from the Mechanical Engineering department comments:
I was delighted with the student’s work, performance and attitude. Thor designed and constructed a mechanism for a bioengineering application. He established a good relationship with the technicians; he learnt quickly and completed his project on time.
The students had a good experience, enjoyed working in Glasgow, met new friends and left with good impressions. With time, these students will develop into the future leaders of society.
