Dundee Graduate Skills Award 2012 winner announced

THE winner of the Dundee Graduate Skills Award 2012 has been announced as Julia Wiles, a 5th year student, studying Medicine.

The Graduate Skills Award is run by the University to help students improve their wider skills beyond their own subject area and give them a personal development plan.

Julia (28), from Bath, has spent time teaching life support skills to primary school pupils in Dundee and helping manage a residential course for people studying English as a foreign language.

Julia receiving her award from the principal of the university, Pete Downes

“I was really keen to do more than just the stuff on my course while I am at university, and the Graduate Skills programme has been a really good way of doing it,” said Julia. “I am thrilled to be given the Award.”

Second place went to Lauren Clunie (4th Year Anatomical & Physiological Sciences) and third place to Scarlett Erskine (Jewellery & Metal Design). A record number of 81 applications were received for this year’s Award.

The winning application was selected by Mark Darley, Recruitment Manager for Enterprise Rent-a-Car, who said he was very impressed with the high quality of applications for this year’s Award.

The Graduate Skills programme is run by the Careers Service at the University.

“The employment market for graduates is extremely competitive and employers are looking for clear evidence that you can demonstrate a range of graduate skills,” said Graham Nicholson, Deputy Director of Student Services at the University. “The Dundee Graduate Skills Award, which is based on skills identified by the CBI, provides students with a clear structure and the means to do this.”