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United States beckons for successful students

1st December 2015

ENTRY is now open for next year’s Study USA programme. Study USA, formerly known as the Business Education Initiative, offers students from Northern Ireland scholarships to spend a year studying business in the United States in order to gain valuable international experience to help develop their career prospects.

Since its formation in 1994, the initiative managed by British Council Northern Ireland on behalf of the Department for Employment and Learning (DEL) has sent over 1,800 students from Northern Ireland to all four corners of the United States where they have successfully completed a year studying business at one of 140 institutions.

As part of last year’s programme, Louise Kavanagh, a drama student at Queen’s University Belfast was named Student of the Year.

The 25-year-old spent a year studying business at Southwestern College, Kansas, and now hopes to use the experience to pursue a career in community theatre.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony at the Belfast Harbour Commissioner’s Office, she said: “Upon completing my internship, I feel I have taken a step towards my career goal of developing and growing a community theatre.

“Through Study USA, I was able to constantly challenge myself and develop the skills to help make a business idea a reality.” Presenting Louise with her award was Heather Cousins, Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Department for Employment and Learning.

She said: “Study abroad is recognised across the world as a key to developing global citizens, enhancing trade links, inf luencing foreign direct investment decisions and strengthening international relations.

“Study USA is my department’s f lagship international mobility programme, providing opportunities to our undergraduates to develop their knowledge and skills, outside of their degree disciplines, and in an international context.

“The programme provides opportunities to create lasting friendships and develop skills and experiences.

This, in turn, helps to strengthen the links between our country and the US, bringing added benefit to individual participants and ultimately to the Northern Ireland economy.

We are grateful for the generous support of the US colleges.”

The deadline for applications to next year’s programme is Monday, December 7, and interested students can apply online now at nireland.britishcouncil.org.

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