Local students win summer uni places

Students Romy Gerring and William Clackett underwent an intensive course in commercialisation skills, and displayed a natural flair for business when tasked with creating viable businesses from ideas on pioneering sports equipment, biomass fuel development and a flood barrier for domestic use.

William was named best individual for the skills and business acumen he developed over the week of the programme, while Romy’s team won the overall group award.

Colm O’Neill, Managing Director, Business, BT Ireland, said, “Business executives that worked with the students this week were given a real uplift – these budding entrepreneurs don’t focus on the negatives, they are too busy inventing the solutions. We should look at as many opportunities as possible to give students business skills from an earlier age – whether it means changes to the school curriculum or more one week placements in enterprises across the island, for example.”

Devised by BT, and delivered by NovaUCD, the BT Business of Science & Technology Programme involved 31 students who were chosen from the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition which took place in January.

The third level summer placements are organised and funded by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) and comprise of a one week placement at University of Limerick (UL)/National University of Ireland, Galway (NUIG).