15 Apr 2019
Loughborough IT Management for Business students impress at Tech Industry Gold event
Students took home four prizes in an IBM sponsored competition held during a recent Tech Industry Gold student event.
On 13 March, over 200 undergraduates joined representatives from large companies such as BT and Deloitte, for a day of talks, networking and training.
Students also had the chance to participate in a competition to pitch their business ideas to a panel of experts. Groups presented ideas that incorporated creativity and viability and demonstrated teamwork.
The competition was split into year groups and the Loughborough first year students won the top spot for their AI robotic dog.
Lara Pearson, Luke Eason, Aldrich Fernandes, Shivani Karsan, Toby Oates and Jack Squires pitched the idea designed to aid blind or partially sighted employees in a company environment. Their presentation included a business plan and a 3D printed model.
Lara was also awarded a prize for outstanding performance on the day.
She said: “We all agreed that we had never been in a team that worked better together or were more productive.”
The team won £500 and a trophy but Lara added: “We have been given the opportunity to visit the IBM offices to work on our project further.”
Fellow student Maxim Olivson was also recognised for his performance.
Maxim was part of the second year group that came third in the competition with their idea for an AI-enhanced Virtual Learning Environment. He commented: “I believe our project was really good and I appreciated winning the individual prize as it shows my efforts were valued.”
Loughborough University is one of only 15 universities that offers a degree in partnership with Tech Industry Gold. It aims to prepare students for careers in IT.
The event gave students a chance to talk to ITMB graduates and see how their careers had progressed.
Lara commented: “It's the perfect opportunity to kickstart your career and find out more about what you can do in the future.”