SBS final year marketing student Jamie Cooper-Higgins was named Scotland Undergraduate of the Year at the annual TARGETjobs Undergraduate of the Year Awards event.
Jamie went through a series of online tests, application forms, interviews and assessment exercises to emerge as winner and collect his award from Sir Trevor McDonald, who hosted the awards, and Alexandra Hopkins from award sponsor CGI.
As well as being named Scotland Undergraduate of the Year, Jamie won a graduate job with CGI.
This award was one of twelve presented on the day and each award was sponsored by a top graduate recruiter: Mars, Laing ORourke, E.ON, EDF Energy, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Rolls-Royce, Gazprom, Nestle, EU Careers, CGI and Mayer Brown.
Jamie said, “I'm delighted to have won the Scotland Undergraduate of the Year Award 2014. It was an absolute honour to accept the award from Sir Trevor McDonald and to be recognised by the main sponsors - TARGETjobs, SHL and CGI, and it was a privilege to represent Strathclyde Business School and the Department of Marketing."
Jamie holds the rank of Officer Cadet within the RAFvr, enlisted with the Universities of Glasgow and Strathclyde Air Squadron. He undertook military flight training, overseas training expeditions and philanthropic work during his two-year honorary commission.
Last year Jamie was selected as a Saltire Foundation intern, working in New York within Global Operations of Barclays Wealth and Investment Management. In his spare time Jamie enjoys music, and is proficient in guitar, bass, clarinet, singing and composition.
“Although academic performance was a factor in winning, it definitely wasn’t the only one. The awards recognise drive and ambition in candidates, shown through extra-curricular activities and life experiences. I’ve tried to maximise my experience while at university through part-time work, marketing internships, military service with the RAF – and last summer as a Saltire Scholar I interned with Barclays Wealth & Investment Management in New York for two months.”
He added, “Over the summer I’m hoping to make the most of the time I have left with my RAFvr unit, the Universities of Glasgow and Strathclyde Air Squadron (UGSAS). I’ll be taking part in a 10-day war training exercise or ‘strike’ in June, taking advantage of the military flying tuition, going on parade in Glasgow for Armed Forces Day and wrapping up with our annual Summer Ball.
“I could never have planned or even conceived any of this five years ago! Right now I’m just planning on working as hard as I can in my new graduate position. I’ve had a great time at Strathclyde and I’m sure I’ll miss university once it’s over, but right now I’m just keen to start the next part of my life and see where it takes me.”
Head of marketing Professor Alan Wilson said, “To be named Scotland Undergraduate of the Year is a fantastic accolade. I am sure that with the amount of drive and enthusiasm Jamie has shown so far in his university career, he will only go from strength to strength. We wish him well in his chosen career and will be following his progress with interest."
You can read more about Jamie’s experience in his blog post at https://www.sbs.strath.ac.uk/blogs/SBS/