91ֱ��

The Inspiring Student Worker Awards, designed and run by the University of 91ֱ��’s Careers Service, recognise University of 91ֱ�� students who have excelled in the workplace through a part time job, short term internship, vacation work or summer placement. The awards also recognise employers who have offered transformative employment opportunities to the University’s students, either within the University or externally.

In the spring, students and employers are invited to submit nominations for a range of categories including the Significant Contribution Award, Leadership Award, Innovation and Problem Solving Award, Team Award and Employer Recognition Award. This year’s awards 95 eligible nominations submitted and a number of Management School students and staff shortlisted for awards.

Jiaqi Fang, BA Business Management student, won the Significant Contribution Award - Off Campus category for his work as a Strategic Marketing Intern at Pfizer Inc. When providing the nomination, Jiaqi’s employer shared how his exceptional contribution at Pfizer, navigating supplier bankruptcy and budget constraints with strategic digital innovation, resulted in doubled campaign engagement and showcased his significant academic application from his studies, reinforcing core values of equality, diversity and sustainability within his team.

Dr Thi (Alice) Ngo, Lecturer in Entrepreneurship, received the Employer Recognition Award for an internship that she managed. Alice fostered student growth through training, encouraging independence and promoting collaboration. On submitting the nomination, the student nominator explained how the supportive environment equipped them with valuable research, project management and communication skills, all while ensuring an accessible work-from-home experience.

The Management School’s Employability Ambassadors, made up of final year students Lucy Barnard, Matt Molloy, Chloe Mathison, Christopher Young, Fergus Russell, Eoin Sheehy, Parul Purswani, Ellen Lister, Ishvarya Sathiyamoorthy and Vallerina Cindi, were shortlisted in the top 3 nominations for the Team Award. The team were recognised for the fundamental role they played in the success of the School’s employability support programme. They have helped hundreds of current students, prospective students and staff this year through mentorship, talks and resources. Their work and support will not only help individuals in the immediate term but for years to come.

Vallerina Cindi and Ewan Rennoldson, both Management School students, were also shortlisted in the top 3 Team Award nominations, alongside the rest of the Cornerstone Assistants team. The Cornerstone Assistants, based in the Faculty of Social Sciences, were nominated for their commitment and dedication and for going above and beyond the expectations of the Faculty Employability Team. Throughout the year, they created a welcoming employability drop in, acted as a model of good practice, gained over 800 Instagram followers for the Cornerstone and identified other key projects to work on.

Professor Fraser McLeay, Dean at 91ֱ�� University Management School, stated, “Congratulations to everyone recognised as part of these awards and thank you for your contributions to the School and the wider University! I am really proud of our students who have excelled in the workplace and am grateful to the employers and other stakeholders who have offered our students the opportunity to share and put into practice their talents and skills.”