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Asidua expand successful scholarship programme

28th March 2011

[Belfast, Northern Ireland – March 28th, 2011] Belfast based global IT services company Asidua, have expanded their successful Scholarship Programme for local IT and Engineering students, with the placement of five new scholars for the 2010/2011 academic year.

Now in its third year the Asidua Scholarship Programme, which was launched in co-operation with both Queen’s University Belfast and the University of Ulster, aims to attract fresh talent into the IT sector by supporting new IT and Engineering students financially during their academic studies and professional careers.

During a recent award ceremony held at Asidua’s head offices in Belfast, the worldwide IT and telecoms specialists announced that their 2010/2011 Scholarship Programme was awarded to five new local students - Emma Davidson, Victoria Potts, Alan Foster & Christopher Kane (Queen’s University of Belfast) and Michael Telford (University of Ulster).

The new Asidua scholarship winners were formally welcomed to Asidua by Chief Operations Officer Angela Canavan and current Asidua scholar Sean Carlin.  “On behalf of Asidua, I would like to personally welcome Emma, Victoria, Alan, Christopher and Michael and congratulate them on their award to the Asidua Scholarship Programme,” said Angela. 

“Since launching the programme in 2008, we have been able to successfully expand our now recognised scholarship initiative for local students each year.”  Angela continued; “Following the large volume of applicants this year, we expanded the programme further with the award of five new scholarship places,  the highest number announced during one year, bringing the number of current Asidua scholars to eleven.”

2008/2009 Asidua scholarship winner Sean Carlin, who is currently on his placement year, outlined the benefits of the Asidua scholarship programme to the gathered guests: “The Asidua Scholarship Programme has allowed me to experience a real working environment and has given me a great opportunity to develop all my skills and gain valuable experience.”   Sean continued; “I feel that achieving a place on the Asidua Scholarship Programme provides local students with both an academic and financial advantage during their studies and also throughout their professional career”.

Following the award ceremony the new scholars were asked for comment on their awards. “I am absolutely thrilled to have been awarded a place on Asidua’s Scholarship Programme,” said Emma Davidson. “This fantastic opportunity enables me to gain invaluable industrial experience which in turn will greatly benefit my studies at Queen’s.” 

A similar view was shared by fellow scholarship winners Victoria Potts & Michael Telford.  “I feel very lucky to have been granted such a wonderful opportunity by Asidua, which will offer stability throughout my degree,” said Victoria.  “I’m eager to begin working with the company and strengthen my IT skills.”  University of Ulster scholarship winner Michael went on to say: “I am immensely pleased, honoured and excited to have been given this unique practice and learning opportunity, in which I know I can develop the essential knowledge, skills and values for a successful career in IT solutions.”

When asked about their initial impressions at Asidua, Queen’s University Computer Science student Alan Foster said: “It was clear from the start that the company’s atmosphere was both professional and welcoming.  Through talking to the current scholars and Asidua management team, it was obvious that all of my expectations were more than succeeded.”  Christopher Kane, an Electrical Engineering student at QUB, agreed: “The award ceremony was an excellent event; putting to rest any queries I may have had and making me feel right at home.” 

In congratulating the QUB scholarship winners, Dr Lillian Greenwood, Director of Education in the School of Electronics, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at Queen’s said: ‘‘I wish to thank Asidua for offering students such prestigious and lucrative scholarships and we are delighted that four of our students have been selected this year.  The scholarships offer the students an unrivalled opportunity to gain invaluable experience throughout their degree, with what is a very progressive and forward thinking IT company.”  Lillian continued: “This has also proven to be a very successful partnership for the University, in that it encourages higher calibre students to consider degrees in computing.’’ 
    
Dr Paul Hanna, Head of School of Computing and Mathematics at University of Ulster, who was also in attendance, went on to congratulate UU student Michael Telford on his achievement: “I would like to congratulate Michael on his award of the prestigious Asidua Scholarship for 2011/2012.”  Paul continued: “The Asidua Scholarship Programme is highly motivational for students as they allow the recipients to see how their University studies relate to real jobs. The summer and placement employment opportunities, which are an integral part of the Scholarship, help students to develop an understanding of the working environment that will make them highly employable.”

 
Photograph Caption
Angela Canavan, Asidua Chief Operations Office (centre), welcomes Alan Foster, Queen’s University Belfast (far left), Victoria Potts, Queen’s University Belfast (left), Christopher Kane, Queen’s University Belfast (centre), Michael Telford, University of Ulster (right) and Emma Davidson, Queen’s University Belfast (far right) to Asidua following their award to the Asidua Scholarship Programme for 2010/2011.

 
NOTES TO EDITOR

About Asidua
Asidua, who employ over 120 staff, is headquartered in Belfast and has offices in Dublin and Birmingham. The company delivers world-class software consultancy and services to clients across a broad spectrum of business sectors through two specialised divisions;

• Business Services - provide Application & Data Integration (ADI) & Customer Contact Platform^TM (CCP) services to large enterprises and public sector organisations.
• Device Services - provide specialised WinPath^TM Expert Services (WES) to the telecommunications market.

 

About the Asidua Scholarship Programme
The Asidua Scholarship Programme, launched in co-operation with both Queen’s University Belfast and the University of Ulster, aims to attract fresh talent into the IT sector and to also support new IT and engineering students financially during their academic studies and beyond.  The scheme will see several successful students from both universities each receiving a scholarship package worth up to £25,000.  Further information on the Asidua Scholarship Programme can be found at www.asidua.com/portal/careers/our-scholarships

 

Media Contacts
Kieran Mitchell
Marketing Manager
Asidua Limited, 10 Weavers Court Belfast
Tel: +44 (0) 28 9072 5000
Fax: +44 (0) 28 9072 5001
Email:  .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)