Presentations included Nike intern, Alex Dodd Jones – the first student from the School of Management to complete a work placement. Alex is currently based in Nike’s Netherlands HQ. Alex was joined by his boss, Katie Langan, HR manager for Nike Western Europe, who spoke very highly of Alex and of the School of Management’s support through the application and recruitment process.  Speakers also heard from the Dean of School (Professor Nigel Piercy), Deputy Dean (Professor Niall Piercy) and Andre Kreie from DAV Germany, the latest international partner to join the School to support extending work placements across Europe.

As well as enhancing graduate employability and student experience, the introduction of work placements also forms part of the School’s strategy to form long lasting partnerships with businesses throughout the UK. Through these links, the School hopes to fundamentally change and improve the operation of business and management. Professor Nigel Piercy, Dean of the School of Management said: "The fantastic upward trajectory of our university, the voice of government, the positive experience of employers in this type of engagement, and the life-changing impact on students make a compelling case for work placement collaborations."

The School of Management is one of the UKs leading providers of management, finance and economic research and education. From summer 2014, all undergraduate students will have the opportunity to undertake a work placement as part of their degree.

The School is now actively seeking placement opportunities for a summer 2014 start and intends to be putting over five hundred students a year into work placements around the world by 2016.

For information about this event or about the work placement schemes in general, please email somplacements@swansea.ac.uk or call 01792 295 177.

Picture: School of Management student Alex Dodd Jones with Katie Langan, HR manager for Nike Western Europe.