‌A group of 14 students at LYIT are off to China for three months’ work experience as part of a unique Springboard course being run, for the first time, at Letterkenny Institute of Technology (LYIT).

The students are taking part in a course studying Professional Selling and International Marketing with Chinese.  The course involves five months studying at LYIT and a three-month placement with a company which trades internationally in China.

Michael McKinney from Bundoran is one such student.  This week he spoke to the Donegal News about his expectations from the course and the opportunity to work side by side with native Chinese employees in Shanghai.  “We are working through a Chinese, Dublin-based company called Zhida Ice who are organising our placements. Their aim is to create links between Ireland and Chinese companies. Our placements will depend on our own experience. We are learning Mandarin Chinese with international business and marketing.

“My own background would be in hospitality and like a few of my classmates, we would hope to possibly move to Shanghai if we can secure full-time positions. The CEO of a US company out there is going to meet us on arrival and give us the benefit of his experience in China. It really is an exciting opportunity for all of us,” Michael explained.

The class of 12 men and two women are finalising their visas as part of their orientation for their 90 day stay.

The students will not be paid while on placement in China but their flights and accommodation will be covered.

EXPERIENCE VALUED

Jill Murphy who teaches the students Mandarin also helps to match the student's skills to the companies they will work with.   “We want it to be as good a match as it can be and this is done through our Dublin based partners who have many contacts in China.

“There is a real cross section of people and skills on the course.

They are aged 23 to 65 years. Older people have more of a career path behind them and the Chinese people have great respect for age. Our students’ backgrounds include design, accountancy, hospitality, teaching, counselling, a Garda and banking all with a focus on business,” Jill said.

The LYIT course is the only one of its kind in the country offering the placement in China with local companies. UCC is offering a similar course but placements are in Ireland.  The other two Lecturers delivering the course are Paul McGuckin (Professional Selling) and Kathleen McGettigan (International Marketing). 

Photo caption:
The Springboard group who are going to China. Included are back row left to right: Terence Heeney, Sean Sweeney, Joe Rice, Fiona Bonner, Martin Gunn, Robert Nuttall.  Middle row left to right: Simon McArdle, Michael McKinney, Peter Fox, Andy Boland, Darren Watters. Front row left to right: Wei Liu (Zhida), Neil Gallagher, Niall Bryson, Elizabeth Mullen, Shuan Liu (Zhida), Jill Murphy (Lecturer). Wei and Shuan, from Zhida, are the Chinese partners that are arranging the placements in China.