07
Enterprising KMS Students
There are many ways in which KMS students, at all levels of study, are encouraged to be enterprising, entrepreneurial and to engage with the world of work.
All KMS undergraduate courses can include a placement year between years two and three of study but there are many other ways in which students can enhance their employability.
First year students across the School can choose the Multinational Enterprise Business Perspectives module. This is their opportunity to work on a live project with a multinational company which this year was a digital communication and social media project set by Michelin Tyre PLC’ s Customer Marketing Manager, Nick Gilbert and Digital Communications Manager, Mark Higginson.
This summer these students will be working with more than 50 different businesses and organisations including SME’ s, social enterprises, a local Council and a professional football club.
2017 Student of the Year awards
The students are currently working on their projects and completing an online journal to help them complete their assessed reports. They have made some interesting comments about their experience of putting the theories they have learned into practice: One hundred and thirty students worked in small groups sharing their ideas with Nick and Mark through the‘ elevator pitch’ getting their main idea across in less than 1 minute. At the end of the project the students delivered a formal presentation to their tutor, Dr Teresa Oultram, who chose the best presentations to be delivered to the Michelin’ s Leadership Team.
See how they got on at www. keele. ac. uk / kms / kmsvideos
All postgraduate taught students in KMS have the option to work with a local business or organisation on an Applied Company Research project instead of completing a dissertation. This year the School has benefited from the support of the Keele Research and Innovation Support Programme, known as KRISP, which has substantially increased the number of placements available.
The KRISP project supports businesses that are thinking about, or are currently in the process of, developing a new product, process or service. By providing dedicated human resource and academic expertise, KRISP delivers the knowledge, focus and procedures that will help local SMEs bring their innovative products and services to market quicker and support their long-term sustainable growth.
The KRISP programme is part-funded through the European Regional Development Fund( ERDF) as part of the England 2014 to 2020 European Structural and Investment Funds( ESIF) Growth Programme.
“ This was interesting as I was learning something new – but I kept thinking of potential improvements all of the time so my brain must be becoming a bit more consultant-like as I am picking up on things that I may not have noticed previously.”
“ Due to the small size of the company, my intuition led me to adapt methodologies from the Lean style of management, saving them money, reducing waste, and most importantly, saving them time.”
“ Having a chat about the app is one thing but the client’ s true vision cannot be put into practice from that. Management theory shows there is a huge overlap in what the client says what the consultant understands, and what the application really requires.”
And from our project hosts:“ I am delighted with the work( the student) has been involved with, his approach, positive attitude, professionalism and the delivery of his project.”
“ The key actions were prioritised following the excellent research into International Markets for the sales and brand awareness opportunities. A timeline has been completed, that will be a great tool to use for my company and also a database has been formatted to be used for my company again an excellent tool.”
“ He walked me through what he had done so far and I am absolutely blown away! He has worked hard and has interpreted the problem and possible solution / s with an impressive level of understanding, innovation and accuracy.”