Google are launching their Online Marketing Challenge for the second year. This is an academic initiative to help students develop their online marketing knowledge. It works as follows: teams of 3-6 students receive US€200 of online advertising with Google AdWords and then source local candidate businesses to work with, to devise effective online marketing campaigns. Teams outline a strategy, run their campaign, assess the results and provide the business with recommendations to further develop their online marketing. Teams submit their reports and are judged by a panel of independent academics from all over the world. The challenge is a great opportunity for students to gain practical, real world experience. Students also get the excitement of competing on a global level for a chance to visit the Google Headquarters in Mountain View, California. In addition, regional winners and their professor will receive a trip to their local Google office. This is designed to be a flexible competition and the amount of time and effort you dedicate is up to you. If you choose, this will only require a minimal time commitment. For more information you can review the academic guide. This includes everything you will need to know to decide if the challenge is right for you. If this is of interest to you, please register on their website Registrations are open until 23rd January and the competition will run between 26th January until 22nd May 2009. Winners will be announced in July.

  Please note Watson Wyatt have extended the application deadline for 2009 graduates until 31st January 2009. They are recruiting graduates in the following area’s this year: Benefits – Defined Benefit Practices/Trainee Actuaries and Defined Contribution Practice/DC Consultants and Investment – Consultants/Trainee Actuaries. Please log on to their website for further information.

  Smurfit Kappa Group invites application for any and all disciplines, whether at primary or post-primary degree level for their Graduate Management Training Programme. This programme provides you with four placements, each of six months duration, in different and distinct business units. A placement may feature one major assignment or a series of small projects. For full details see the Careers Service Vacancy Website. The closing date for applications is 20th February 2009 for programme commencing October 2009.

  OSK – Trainee Chartered Accountant. Closing date: 31/01/09. Click here for full details
Musgrave Group – IT Graduate Programme. Closing date: 31/01/09. Click here for full details
Sony Europe – European Graduate Programme. Closing date: 31/01/09. Click here for full details
Kerry Group plc – Graduate Programme. Closing date: 06/02/09. Click here for full details

  The National Centre for Biomedical Engineering Science (NCBES) at NUI Galway invites applications for its Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships. UREKA is a Science Foundation Ireland funded programme which promotes active research participation by undergraduate students from science, engineering and medicine and provides a challenging and enjoyable research environment. Further information on the Programme and projects along with application procedure can be found on their website. Closing date for receipt of applications is 5pm on Friday 27th February 2009.

  The Dublin Institute of Technology is proud to offer a one-year whole-time Postgraduate Diploma in Law at their city centre campus in Aungier Street, Dublin. This programme aims to provide an integrated education in the practice and theory of law, supported by lectures, tutorials, coursework and research projects. A graduate of the programme will acquire a critical understanding of and approach to the diversity of legal issues in contemporary Irish society – skills useful to a career in law, and transferable to employment in business and in the public sector. This Postgraduate Diploma programme is ideal for graduates in any university discipline wishing to pursue a career in, or involving law. It has proved particularly popular with students intending to take the Law Society’s Final Examination First Part (FE-1 examinations) with a view to becoming a solicitor, with several attaining employment with prestigious Irish and international firms. On completion of the PG Diploma programme, select graduates are eligible to apply for an MA in Law supplement, comprising a minor dissertation and an advanced research studies module. For full details, see their website

  Monbukagakusho Scholarships for Students of Japanese Studies

The Government of Japan will offer Monbukagakusho Scholarships to Irish undergraduates who wish to pursue Japanese Studies for the academic year 2009-2010. This scholarship is open to all university or college undergraduates enrolled in faculties or schools that major in Japanese language or Japanese culture.
Click here and here for all relevant information and application materials.

Hungarian Scholarship Summer School Programmes 2009

The Hungarian Scholarship Board has announced details of their 2009 – 2010 Scholarship Programme. Irish students are invited to apply for the 2009 summer school programme. Two scholarships are available to attend a recognised summer school in Hungary. The summer scholarship will cover accommodation, meals, tuition and a daily allowance for the successful candidates. Further information can be obtained from their website Completed application forms (plus required enclosures) should be submitted in duplicate to the Department of Education and Science, International Section, Marlborough Street, Dublin 1, Email: marie_mooney@education.gov.ie no later than 5.30pm on 20 February 2009. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.

  Please note, during the coming week Graduate Prospects prospects is holding a series of exclusive ChatLive events next.

ChatLive week opens on Monday 26th with top graduate employers and postgraduate course providers answering questions and providing advice. The sector themed chats continue throughout the week, concluding with a general careers chat on Friday 30th January.

* Monday 26th January 2009 – IT, Engineering, Science and Technology
* Tuesday 27th January 2009 – Public, Voluntary and Education (including PGCE)
* Wednesday 28th January 2009 – Postgraduate day
* Thursday 29th January 2009 – Business, Law and Professional Services
* Friday 30th January 2009 – General chat day

ChatLive week is sponsored by; Open University, ARUP, Reckitt Benckiser, Kings College London and The University of Strathclyde.

For further informaton on the daily events, please link to the following page Chatlive

  The British Council China plans to organise a series of Alumni UK Career Development Workshop and Mini Recruitment Fairs in early January 2009, which will take place in four major cities in China ie. Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chongqing and all alumni returned to China are welcome to participate in and benefit from it. These annual events are very well received by alumni and employers and they hope that as many alumni as possible can benefit from it. The aims of the workshop and mini recruitment fair are: to help alumni better understand the increasingly competitive job market in China; to fully realise their potential and capitalise on the buoyant Chinese economy; to re-orientate to China’s job environment upon graduation and to provide a platform for employers to target and recruit a niche group of highly qualified professionals from UK. For further information contact Jin Jing, Education Marketing Manager, British Council Beijing, Email: Jin.Jing@britishcouncil.org.cn