Andrew Feeney

Name: Andrew Feeney
Club 21 Employer: SELEX Galileo
Degree Subject: Mechanical Engineering
Year of Graduation: 2010

I joined SELEX Galileo to carry out my Masters Project in Mechanical Engineering and was enrolled in Club 21 through my University Department when they found out I had secured a placement. I was not fully aware of Club 21 before I was invited to join, but I soon found it to be very worthwhile- it provided extra support to my placement experience and also built upon my growing list of contacts, both business and personal, as I got to know some of the others who were working at SELEX Galileo and also taking part in Club 21.

SELEX Galileo was very aware of the benefits offered by this scheme, and allocated time for a Club 21 representative to interview me on two different occasions – once near the start of my placement and once near the end. Assistance was always there if necessary and communication was fast and efficient.

Club 21 also encourages good placement practice by means of the Placement Learning Diary. This requires accurate recording of one’s experiences while on placement and allows a period of thought and reflection where one can truly try to understand what has been learned from the placement experience, and to consider whether all the initial aims have been met.

A Club 21 Networking Dinner is organised around November, and is attended by senior industry members, a guest speaker and University of Glasgow representatives. The objective of the dinner, for a student, is to secure useful and invaluable contacts from the business and professional world, as well as to learn from the experiences of one’s fellow Club 21 placement students.

I would therefore recommend applying to Club 21; involvement in the programme helps a student to enhance their career prospects for the future, not least through the networking opportunities on offer.