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8 Apr 2010 11:17:46
International student Animesh Chowdhury is the first person to benefit from a graduate internship scheme at the University of Bedfordshire.
Animesh, who studied Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, has now started his internship with local company 1A-Instalec as a marketing and advertising developer.
The University is working with a number of local companies to set up graduate internships for unemployed or underemployed graduates, from any UK university, who are looking for work in the region.
Benefiting from Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) funding totalling £120,000, local employers are being offered a subsidy by the University to encourage participation in the scheme. There are 75 places available and the University is currently bidding to increase this to 150.
Bedfordshire is one of more than 50 universities to have taken up the Government’s £13.6 million fund to provide internships with private sector employers and in particular small businesses by the end of the year. This is part of the Backing Young Britain campaign to help young people into work.
Mark Diggle, Deputy Head of the University’s Careers and Employment Service, said: “While some concerns have been raised in the media regarding such schemes, it should be noted that all employers working with the University are required to pay the graduates undertaking an internship.
“Many graduates last year found themselves in the middle of the recession and facing the worst unemployment figures for 12 years. They are just looking for the chance to use their skills in the workplace.”
One of the University’s recent Public Relations graduates, Aisha Mahmood, helped support this positive message regarding the scheme at a recent event for the Federation of Small Businesses at the Putteridge Bury campus.
She said: “I have been fortunate but many of my peers have had disheartening experiences in the current economic climate.
“Marketing yourself takes a lot of time and can be a full-time job. These are people who will be great once they are given a chance.”
If
you know of a local business which could benefit from this scheme, direct
them here or ask them to call the Knowledge Hub on 0800 3285334. Any interested graduates should call 01582 489293.
Latest news» 2010» April» Animesh benefits from graduate internship scheme
