Strathclyde Business School students selected for the Saltire internship programme this summer are nearing the end of their placements which have been in the UK and abroad with companies such as American Express, Fender Musical Instruments, Indie Semiconductor, Zizzi and Edwards Life Sciences.
Gordon Wynne, Accounting and Finance student, is working with Amex in New York. He said, "As an Accounting and Finance student going into my final year at the University of Strathclyde, being given the opportunity to work in this organisation in New York has provided me with experience and knowledge I simply would not have been able to obtain anywhere else."
Rebecca Hay, IBML student, is in London undertaking a summer marketing internship with Italian food chain Zizzi. She has had experience of all aspects of the company, from food tasting for a new menu to writing press releases and social media work. She said, "Over the past seven weeks I have been given the opportunity to work on such a wide variety of tasks, which I never imagined would have been possible.
"I believe being a Saltire Scholar has prepared me for my final year at University, in terms of increasing my skill set, as well as for entering the 'real world' once I have graduated, and I will forever be grateful for the opportunity provided to me.
Chantelle Christian is working in Nyon, Switzerland with Edwards Life Sciences. Also an IBML student, she is using her language skills and enjoying her international experience. She said, "Overall, the internship has reinforced why I study what I do. Speaking French and Spanish has enabled me to feel included in the cross-cultural environment and see first-hand that people appreciate the effort put in to learning their language. Plus, it's always fun to quash the stereotype that native English speakers are bad at languages!
"Secondly, through studying International Business, I am more aware and sensitive to different cultures and can better adapt to different working styles. Indeed, I am appreciating more and more every day the importance of understanding different cultures in the workplace."
All three students wrote blogs for the SBS blog - to read the full account of their individual experiences, please click here