Luke Jefferson, a UEA student, has been crowned the HSBC Unipreneur of the Year 2008. The business he set up with colleague Luke Walsh managed to impress the judges, winning him a £20,000 prize. The pair started the business, called Scratchface, in 2004 as part of the PhD in Computer Science that Mr Jefferson is working on. Their success is due to their invention of a software algorithm which allows colour-blind users to adjust the colour settings of their computers to suit their individual needs. The competition is designed to encourage young entrepreneurs and reward business success when it is combined with further education.
Students at the University of Surrey could spend each year of their degree course in a different country under plans to turn the institution into one of the world's top universities. Surrey unveiled its 10-year plan, which includes proposals to produce students with unique skills gained through experiencing different cultures. Under the proposals, students will be able to choose to spend their first year in Guildford, their second in China, the third in industry abroad and their final year in the US, but still come out with a Surrey degree. A key part of Surrey's new strategy is to develop ties with other universities around the world - focused initially on China and the US - that will teach Surrey degrees, rather than spending money building campuses abroad.
Graduate job vacancies will rise this year by 16.4% but employers anticipate difficulties filling them, according to the Association of Graduate Recruiters. Only pharmaceutical and insurance firms are not predicting growth. Salaries are expected to increase modestly by 2.1%, bringing the median salary for new graduates to £24,000. The twice-yearly survey of public and private sector employers into the status of graduate recruitment showed a rise in vacancies for the fifth year running despite uncertainties in the UK economy. A quarter of recruiters are now actively marketing their UK vacancies to overseas graduates in order to recruit the very best talent that is available.
Grants for volunteering projects
Students who want to develop employable skills and use their passions and interests to make a positive impact in their communities can now apply for a vcashpoint grant of up to £2,500 to run their own volunteering project. Run by V, the youth volunteering charity, in partnership with HSBC Bank, the grants help students to make their exciting ideas a reality, turning their skills, hobbies and concerns into positive action. Anyone aged 16 to 25 in England can apply for the funding. Running a vcashpoint project is an ideal way to contribute to the local community and gain skills and experience in areas such as communication, team work, budgeting and project management, which are highly valued by many employers and great to include on CVs.
More information and full application details can be found at www.vinspired.com.
Going green
A new website is helping hundreds of people find their perfect role within the environment industry. From graduate positions to directorships, www.environmentalcareers.org.uk/jobs has jobs for hydrologists, water quality advisors, network modellers, civil engineers, energy consultants, air quality specialists, aquatic ecologists and environmental engineers. Companies currently advertising include MWH, Allen & York, United Utilities, river trusts, water companies, Principal Consulting, Capita Symonds, APEM and UKAEA. With advice on how to perform well at interviews, where to find work experience and overseas conservation opportunities, events that contribute to continuing professional development, news and jobs, log on to find out how to succeed in the environmental sector.
Students' designs set to wow fashion world
Karen Millen has helped select outfits designed by De Montfort University students for a prestigious London catwalk show renowned for launching the careers of some of Britain's top fashion names. De Montfort University has been chosen to be among 20 of the top fashion colleges in the UK to showcase student work at Graduate Fashion Week (GFW) on the 8th June 2008 at Earls Court. The annual GFW sees the fashion industry and media pick out the next generation of designers from the best of the new fashion graduates as well as awards given by a panel of judges including supermodel Claudia Schiffer.
UEA student wins Unipreneur 2008