Business students get career ready with Industry Month

Students on a range of Business courses at USW have been put through their paces with a series of challenges designed to prepare them for their future careers in industry.

The second annual Operations Management Industry Month, which took place throughout January, saw students benefit from an impactful programme of events that brought together theory and practice, moving beyond the lecture theatre to showcase the full spectrum of contemporary industry practice.

This included manufacturing and operations, project and programme management, innovation and change leadership, career development and employability, sustainability and global trade, and Artificial Intelligence and digital transformation.

The month started with a keynote lecture from Rebecca Evans MS, Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning, who discussed the future of the manufacturing industry in Wales; followed by workshops from heads of industry and innovative local business leaders who are shaping the future of the sector.

Students on the MSc Management, MSc Project Management, MSc Engineering Management, MSc International Logistics & Supply Chain Management and MSc Strategic Procurement Management degrees also took part in the Industry Month Grand Challenge – an exciting, high-stakes competition featuring a live industry brief from Transport for Wales.

Working in teams, the students applied core concepts of problem solving and design thinking to develop a robust, real-world solution, testing their knowledge to innovate under pressure and present data-driven, valuable suggestions for improving the user experience of railway passengers in South Wales.

Ideas included installing digital advertising screens on Transport for Wales trains; integrating the TfW app with digital wallets; and providing opportunities for local businesses to set up catering and retail outlets at busy stations.

Professor Paul Byard, Senior Lecturer in Project Management, said: “Beyond inspiring talks, the Month focused on ensuring our students are industry ready and prepared to launch their career. By lining up essential workshops and guest speakers who have provided practical, targeted advice on navigating the UK job market, they have received critical training on everything from CV development to mastering the application process.”

Sriram Chinnadurai, Senior Lecturer in Engineering Management, added: “These sessions gave the students the opportunity to gain a competitive edge and secure the skills, insights and confidence needed to successfully transition from student to professional. We are proud of how each team approached the Grand Challenge and showed real ingenuity in their presentations, using everything they had learned during Industry Month to make a real difference.”