Maghera student scoops award from top law firm

Helen Kielt collected the Allen & Overy Award at the university’s Belfast campus after successfully completing the Library and Information Management diploma, a two-year part-time programme that enhances the skills of information professionals.

Supported by the active involvement of staff and resources from international law firm, Allen & Overy, the course offers graduates professional accreditation from the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP).

Samantha McCombe, Library & Research Manager at Allen & Overy in Belfast, said:“Our congratulations go to Helen and to her fellow graduates who have completed this challenging professional training course. Exceptional library and information managers are of great importance to international organisations like Allen & Overy. It is vital that firms like us and the wider Northern Ireland business community have access to well-equipped and highly trained talent in this field.”

Helen Kielt works within the Health in Mind team at Libraries NI to promote positive mental health throughout public libraries. She said: “I am passionate about community building in the library and information profession. Receiving the Allen and Overy Award is a privilege, representing an extension of the support I enjoyed from my peers and tutors during two fantastic years of postgraduate study. I would like to acknowledge and thank my course tutors and all my classmates, whose enthusiasm made the learning experience so valuable.”

Dr Sam McGuinness, Head of the School of Education at the University of Ulster, said: “We value Allen & Overy’s continued support for the Library and Information Management course at the University of Ulster and the relationship we have built with the global firm. Two members of Allen & Overy staff are also currently taking the course.

“Its support and encouragement of emergent library and information professionals in Northern Ireland through this award is an important recognition of the achievements of these graduates.

The University of Ulster is proactive in forging partnerships with international companies, which improve our students’ career opportunities and impact positively on the wider community and in turn, the local economy.

“As Head of the School of Education, which runs the Library and Information Management course, I would like to thank Allen & Overy and congratulate this year’s recipient, Helen Kielt.”