Stirling students complete Santander Work Skills Programme

MSc Banking and Finance students, Weijie Jin and Xinzhe Yuan, are banking on a bright future after being the first students at the University to successfully complete the Santander Work Skills Programme this month. 

This was the first year that the work skills programme took place and it gives students the opportunity to take part in a two week work placement with the Santander branch on campus. The programme is designed to give students a real-life view of what a career with Santander could be like through shadowing the branch manager as well as working on a small strategic project which stretches and develops the skillset of the student.

Dr Siobhán Lucey, MSc Banking and Finance programme director at the University of Stirling, said:

“This innovative partnership between the MSc Banking and Finance programme and Santander Universities provides an excellent opportunity for our students to get real life experience of working in a banking environment and to put into practice what they have learnt during the academic year.”

The programme covers a variety of topics within the business such as: risk management, marketing, sales, people management and customer service. At the end of the programme the student completes a short presentation to deliver the finding of their project and receives a certificate as confirmation they have completed the course with Santander.

Stephen Jenkins, University Relationship Branch Manager, Santander Universities, said:

“This year was the first year we have delivered the programme at the University of Stirling and it has been a great success. The students got very involved with the branch operation, showed interest throughout and asked questions to further their knowledge and understanding as they shadowed me. They had the opportunity to join us at two events to welcome new groups of international students to the University and were very helpful and proactive, communicating well and helping their fellow students to understand UK banking.

“Both students delivered excellent presentations on the last day to feedback the findings of their chosen project, one on marketing the branch and the other on improving digital banking. Overall, the programme gave the students the opportunity to develop their communication skills, gain confidence and provide the knowledge of how a branch works on a day-to-day basis in the UK.”

Fourth-year Banking and Finance student, Weijie Jin, said:

“The Work Skills programme not only give me practical experience of working in the real branch but also helped me consolidate the relevant knowledge learned in the whole year. Furthermore the programme will help enrich my CV and give great help to find a job in the future.”    

Xinzhe Yuan, who is due to graduate this November, said:

“The Santander Work Skills programme taught me things I could not learn in lectures. I learnt how to show respect to my colleagues and customers and how to be a professional banker.”