Students benefit from QMU’s new Employability and Enterprise Festival
Students from Queen Margaret University (QMU) will benefit from the wisdom of some of Scotland’s top organisational leaders when the University launches its new Employability and Enterprise Festival
The week-long festival of employability activities and presentations, to be held from 12 - 16th February, will span the specialisms of arts, performance and entertainment; business & enterprise; health and the voluntary sector.
The programme of events aims to entertain, inspire and motivate the University students to develop their knowledge and understanding of key sectors, and to enhance their student experience of learning. Importantly, QMU’s employability festival puts a significant emphasis on encouraging students to develop as entrepreneurs and includes lots of talks and interactive learning activities with academics and business leaders.
Students will meet organisational leaders from all walks of life, including the high profile social enterprises Social Bite and Street Soccer Scotland; Marc Crothall, CEO Scottish Tourism Alliance; Jackie Brock, CEO of Children in Scotland; Vic Galloway, presenter on Radio Scotland and 6 Music; Stevie Middleton, Radio Scotland producer and record company owner; Orla O’Loughlin, Artistic Director at the Traverse Theatre; and Elaine Millar who runs her own physiotherapy practice.
Students will also benefit from skills development workshops in competency-based interviews and CV development, and entrepreneurial sessions with Converge Challenge, Scotland’s largest entrepreneurial training programme. In addition, participants will engage with many academics during the week who will host a panel discussion on the impact of Brexit on employment and enterprise, and lead entrepreneurial brainstorming walking sessions.
Professor Petra Wend, Principal of Queen Margaret University, said: “QMU is top in Scotland and third in the UK for employability of our undergraduate leavers. 98.2% of our graduates are in work or further study six months after graduation. We are committed to ensuring that our students are work ready and have the skills and knowledge that employers are looking for. Events like this employability festival are important in enhancing the student experience and encouraging students to view entrepreneurship as a first destination graduate career option.”
The entrepreneur, food expert and TV celebrity, Prue Leith CBE, will attend the festival. Prue, who is Chancellor of Queen Margaret University, will provide QMU’s MSc Gastronomy students with an insight into her career as a business woman, and will also attend an event celebrating the partnership with East Lothian Business Gateway and showcasing the success of our Business Innovation Zone and graduate start up companies.
Professor Wend concluded: “We have a packed programme of exciting and useful events over the week. We are sure that our industry speakers, entrepreneurs and academics will help our students gain clearer insights into different industries and professions, whilst inspiring them to be ambitious in their outlook and achieve their goals.”
If you would like to discuss the event, please contact the Convener of the Employability and Enterprise Festival Steering Group, Carol Brennan cbrennan@qmu.ac.uk
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Notes to Editor
For further media information contact Lynne Russell, Communications Manager, Queen Margaret University, E: lrussell@qmu.ac.uk T: 0131 474 0000, M: 07711 011239, or Jonathan Perkins, Press and PR Officer, E: jperkins@qmu.ac.uk T: 0131 474 0000.
