The Innovation in Placement Awards celebration event is held annually to recognise the success of students who have been on placement over the last year.
The 2025 ceremony took place on 20 June at the Belfast campus, to allow the Faculty of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment to formally recognise and celebrate the success of its students who have been working on placement over the last year.
At the event, nominees and winners were honoured for their outstanding achievements and their key role in innovation within their organisations. These contributions can be through innovations such as the development of new processes and the implementation or integration of new technologies.
Speaking at the awards, Professor Colin Turner, Pro Vice Chancellor and Executive Dean, Faculty of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment, said:
“It is well established that the work placements undertaken by Ulster University students enhance their academic performance and provide the type of real-world experience that significantly improves potential for success in gaining employment, with many of our graduates taking up jobs with their original placement organisation.
“Recently published reports indicate that 84% of graduates from degree programmes offered within the Faculty of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment are in employment within 15 months of graduating. In addition, placements allow our students to build personal networks and develop valuable transferable skills and competencies that provide a foundation which they can develop throughout their entire future career, wherever that may take them.”
The consistently high-quality placement opportunities that are made available to our students would not be possible without the excellent support provided by our various external partners, many of whom also make invaluable contributions to ensuring that course curricula are relevant for current and future requirements across the various sectors concerned. In this way, we collectively ensure that our graduates have the knowledge and skills necessary to take up employment in many of the areas that will drive economic growth here in Northern Ireland and beyond.
On behalf of the University community, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our placement partners for the continued support they offer to enriching the learning experience of our students.
Innovation in Placement Student Winners:
This year, we received an exceptional number of nominations, each highlighting the outstanding contributions made by students to their placement companies and, after careful consideration, the following students have been selected as the winners of the Innovation in Placement Awards 2025.
Built Environment winner:
Eimear Bruce (Placement Company Representative Drew Davison at Nugent Engineering)
Eimear analysed the paint waste disposal processes and identified inefficiencies in solvent usage and disposal. She contributed to improved chemical handling and storage protocols, enhancing safety and compliance. Her research underpinned a successful business case for purchasing and installing two UNIC 25L solvent recycling units. The innovation is projected to reduce annual solvent-related costs by approximately £10,164, while significantly cutting volatile organic compound emissions and hazardous waste. Eimear’s research was foundational for the implementation of this innovation, ensuring long-term operational benefits.
Computing winner:
Eoin McCartan (Placement company representative Holly Crymble at Hamilton Robson)
Eoin led the development on Audio Visual Assistant, a new product aimed at revolutionising meeting room tech health verification and transforming how organisations ensure operational AV systems. He developed a groundbreaking method of encoding and decoding data through light and sound using advanced FFT algorithms and computer vision techniques. Eoin achieved 200% improvement in signal-to-noise ratio through custom-designed retroreflector components and specialised detection algorithms. This represents a massive commercial opportunity for Hamilton Robson as they are introducing a new product category to their portfolio.
Engineering winner:
Ruairi McLaughlin (Placement company representative Todd Ruddock at Stryker)
Ruairi contributed to the development of a next-generation radiofrequency ablation device. He identified 3 key areas of potential improvement and forged connections between various stakeholders to design and develop 3 different, fully functional devices that tackled each area. This work culminated in a Voice of the Customer lab with one of Stryker’s surgeon Key Opinion Leaders, who assessed Ruairi’s designs, preferring each over the existing model. The different design features have also initiated in-depth discussions to set future project trajectory.
Also speaking at the ceremony, Professor Jonathan Wallace, Academic Chair of Employer Advisory Board and Chair of Innovation in Placement Judging Panel, added:
“The awards are in their 23rd year this year and once again the level of innovation presented to the judging panel was to a high standard.
We developed these awards to allow us to recognise and showcase the positive impact that our students can have on their placement organisations. The students are nominated by their placement organisations only if they felt they had made a significant impact upon their organisation, above and beyond that expected as the duties of a normal placement student. Innovations this year included development of new policies, new technologies, and software development, which have significantly improved business insight and operational efficiencies in their placement companies.
Undertaking a placement year is vitally important and not only helps to prepare students for the world of work but increases their employability in what is an increasingly competitive marketplace.
The Faculty and the University greatly value the collaborative relationship we have with our placement providers and the vital practical experience it brings to our students.”
Find out more:
For further information on the Faculty of CEBE, visit the Faculty Website.
