Warwickshire News Mine

A total of 14 MSc students have been working their way through projects focussing on a range of issues, including how the council manages demand for customer access, the future shape of the school meals service and how to change the way the authority works with people receiving council services.

Altogether ten projects were identified as part of this unique programme of collaboration, which organisers believe has strengthened the links that already existed between the council and Warwick University.

Council managers designed the projects and worked closely with their student placements. The results of the projects have recently been unveiled to council bosses.

Councillor Alan Cockburn, Warwickshire County Council’s Portfolio Holder for Resources, said: “Mutually beneficial arrangements are always the best and this one is no exception. Warwickshire County Council has the advantage of top Warwick Business School students applying themselves to their challenges which lie ahead and the students get experience of real business situations.”

Les Oakshott, University of Warwick Programme Manager for the Warwick Business School Masters students said: “This project has been a win-win. Warwickshire County Council gets highly motivated, skilled workers and the students get the opportunity to put into practice the skills they have learnt.”

Agnes Lim, an international student graduating from Warwick Business School with an MSc, worked on a project for the county council’s HR Service Centre.

Tom Pierpoint, another of the Warwick MSc graduates, was employed as a manager for the county council’s Park and Ride service for the duration of his placement and is to be permanently employed by the council as a programme manger in transport planning now he has completed his studies.

He said: “This was an excellent opportunity due to the amount of responsibility. I had the chance to make a difference and was able to get hands on experience and get my hands dirty.”

Chris Juckes, Head of Projects in Warwickshire County Council’s Resources directorate, said: "This programme has been a real success. It is clear that the postgraduate students have technical specialist skills that can be used to great effect in a complex organisation like the county council.

"As for the future, I am very optimistic that we can build on this new relationship and I now look forward to working with our managers and the university on a new set of projects next year."

Link to WCC