A leading, local software consultancy firm has won a prestigious national award for its support work with University of Ulster students.
Asidua scooped the 2011 National Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services (AGCAS) Excellence Award in the Work-related Learning category.
It recognises the company’s effectiveness and success in innovative practice, as a placement partner supporting University of Ulster students.
The Career Development Centre at Ulster nominated Asidua and provided evidence of exceptional placement experience, based on feedback from students, graduates and academic colleagues.
Each year the company takes around ten students for a 12-month period to work either directly for a client or on internal projects, developing software tools and frameworks using the latest technologies and languages.
The Award for Work-related Learning is given to an employer demonstrating an outstanding example of effective work experience, employer project work or contribution to student skills development.
Damian McGivern, Director of Student Marketing and Employability at Ulster, said: “Providing an opportunity for students to enhance their employability is a key component of programmes within the University of Ulster
“We were delighted to nominate Asidua for the AGCAS Award as they provide a wide range of high quality work-based learning opportunities for students.”
Angela Canavan, Chief Operations Officer at Asidua, said the company was delighted to pick up the latest accolade, having previously taken the University of Ulster Placement Employer of the Year award in 2009 and being commended as a finalist in 2011.
“Asidua has always placed a strong emphasis on the support and continued development of our local students and values the contribution and fresh insight that all our placement students offer,” she explained.
“Following a detailed induction, placement students join our existing project teams, allowing them to gain real experience on a worldwide scale.
“In addition to helping them prepare for their final year – all Asidua placements students achieve a 2:1 or above – we feel that the learning and development culture experienced on placement with us is one of the main reasons why 100 per cent of our students choose to apply for a graduate position in the future.”
Caption (left to right): Sophie Gaw, Human Resources Department, Asidua; Philip Houston, Work Experience Development Manager, University of Ulster; Angela Canavan, Chief Operations Officer, Asidua