As part of the series on the Summer Term Programme, in this week's MicroCPD, Professor John Snaith (School of Chemistry) discusses the Reckitt Challenge.
Leveraging School of Chemistry alumni contacts and Careers Network relationships led to our partnership with Reckitt, a global leader in healthcare and fast-moving consumer goods, with a multi-billion pound market share. Students work in teams to solve chemistry- and business-focused challenges set for them by Reckitt, interacting with colleagues from Reckitt around the globe as well as academics in Birmingham. The idea of the Reckitt Challenge arose from a desire to improve the employability prospects of our students and to demonstrate to them the real-world relevance of the material that they have been studying within core chemistry modules. Tasking Chemistry undergraduates to work in teams to solve commercially relevant chemical problems helps them to develop the key skills of teamwork, communication, planning and time management that are essential to the world of work. It is very rewarding to see the Challenge bearing fruit, with students moving on to successful industry placements and jobs.
Since initiating the programme, several of our students have carried out their placements at Reckitt as part of our Year in Industry programme.