STUDENTS IN UK COMPANIES

EMPLOYERS GIVE THEIR OPINION ON IAESTE   

Mark McClure, is the Manager for Product Maintenance Engineering at FG Wilson (Engineering) Ltd, manufacturers of quality generator sets and a major global player in the provision of power generation solutions.  In 2007 they hosted two IAESTE trainees, Qin Dai from China and Athula Kumara Gato Kandege from Sri Lanka.  

Mark, what initially attracted you to employing an international trainee?

‘Interest for FG Wilson goes back over 10 years now. FG Wilson is a company that encourages diversity & development, having the opportunity to integrate and work with an overseas student supports this. It not only offers development of the IAESTE student but also the opportunity for our own employees to gain experience & understanding as they work together. ‘

What benefits have your IAESTE trainees have brought to the company and its workforce?

‘Over the past years we have employed students from all over the world, Eastern Europe, Middle East, China, Sri Lanka, Tunisia. As a global manufacturing company with facilities worldwide FG Wilson’s employment of an international exchange student adds to our global understanding and footprint. For example as we have expanded our operations in China the employment of a student from this region has supported the development and introduction of products into that territory.’

Have the trainees come to the company with the relevant academic knowledge in order to carry out the work?

‘We have found them to be of a consistently high standard. This is not only from a technical standpoint; the students come to us well versed in our language with good communication skills written and oral. Engagement of our employees at FG Wilson is a primary focus and the students I have worked with from this programme come with energy and an enthusiasm to develop their skills with a positive attitude to their work.’

Qin, what attracted you to the traineeship with FG Wilson?

‘Although I didn't know FG Wilson before I saw the offer through IAESTE, I searched the Internet for information. After getting to know more about FG Wilson, I found the company an industrial leader with a good reputation.

‘The Solutions Department in which I am doing the internship also offers one of the most challenging environments. These two factors made me believe that I could get a great chance to gain both industrial and overseas experiences.’

How do you feel your work has benefited your knowledge and skills?

‘I am in a team in Solutions who carry out specified engineering design. It is the first time that I’ve had the chance to put what I learned in university into practise. Working with experienced engineers in the department gives me a fundamental knowledge about how things work in the real world rather than pure theories in books.

I did a special project in which my interest and skills in market research were made full use of. My skills in team work, communication with people, problem solving and using equipment are improving everyday in this challenging working environment.’

For more information on the partnership between IAESTE and FG Wilson, please email Karen Moses or call 02890 248 220 ext 230