Students shortlisted for top award

 

The Graduate Advantage Student Placement Programme brings together students from higher education institutions across the West Midlands and companies looking to access graduate level skills.

 

Students undertake a graduate level placement in their host company over the summer vacation and have the opportunity to take part in an end of placement competition.

 

Eleven students from the University of Wolverhampton attended a local competition to present their work to their peers and employers. Three of them were selected to compete against five other finalists for the title of Most Outstanding Student 2007 in the West Midlands Final on Wednesday, September 26.

 

In the Shropshire competition, the two winners were -

 

Chris Higley, 21, from Brierley Hill - studying a BA (Hons) International Business Management, University of Wolverhampton Business School.

 

Hazel Perks, 23, from Shrewsbury - MA Human Resource Management, University of Wolverhampton Business School.

 

In the Birmingham/Black Country competition, the winner from the University was -

 

James Sharma, 19, originally from Nepal - BSc (Hons) Civil Engineering, School of Engineering and the Built Environment.

 

Helene Turley, Employer Liaison Manager at the University, said: "I am really pleased that we have had 11 students taking part and to have three going to the finals is fantastic."

 

The eight regional finalists have completed a project report in advance of the competition and will give a ten-minute presentation on their placement. They will be judged on this, along with a reference from their supervisor at their host company. The competition will be held at the Electric Cinema in Birmingham.