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2025 Kemmy Business School Winner - Sarah Chambers

"Taking part in the Cooperative Education Work Placement was one of the highlights of my time at the ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ. When I first researched the Bachelor of Business Studies, I instantly knew this would be an excellent course for me, due to the opportunity to gain eight months of real experience in the workplace.

I was fortunate to be assigned to the Continuous Improvement Team at Regeneron and was quickly immersed in a team-oriented and encouraging environment. I was entrusted with tasks, diverse projects, and responsibilities that allowed me to contribute strongly to my team and the broader organisation, both in Limerick and internationally.

A memorable achievement during my time there was organising and facilitating the Department’s first Intern-Wide Competition, which was a great success. I developed hard and soft skills, including collaboration, problem-solving, and critical thinking. These skills were extremely beneficial during my final year and will continue to support me throughout my career.

UL strongly emphasises combining academic learning with practical experience, allowing students to graduate with a well-rounded degree to enter the workforce. My Cooperative Education Placement with a Multi-National Corporation was an incredibly valuable experience, allowing me to grow personally and professionally."

2025 School Placement Award Winner - Katie Egan

"It means a great deal to me to receive this award, especially when I reflect on how I’ve grown since my first school placement. One of the biggest challenges I faced early on was managing behaviour in the classroom. With the support of my tutors, cooperating teachers and school management, I received the guidance I needed to become the teacher I wanted to be. They helped instil in me the confidence to develop a firm but fair leadership style in the classroom.

While on school placement, my peers were also a huge support. Whether it was sharing engineering project ideas, discussing lesson plans or someone to talk to about the learning curves of placement, I always felt like we were in it together. This support is something I hope we continue to offer each other in our careers as newly qualified teachers.

One of the most rewarding parts of placement was getting involved in extracurricular activities, especially the robotics club. It gave me a chance to engage with students in a different context and show them how fun and exciting STEM can be outside of the classroom. It reminded me why I love teaching; not just delivering content, but building self-confidence and enthusiasm for learning in young people.

Receiving this award is an honour, but it also feels like a recognition of everyone who helped me along the way. I’m grateful for the opportunity to be part of a community here in UL of educators who care deeply about their students and each other."

Previous Winners