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New partnership gives media graduates a head-start in TV

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Sarah McConville
Stirling Film and Media graduate Sarah McConville at Tern TV.

Media graduates from the University of Stirling are taking their first steps in professional production, thanks to a new partnership between the university and a leading Scottish independent television production company.

The three graduates - Monta Burge, Sarah McConville and Ehssan Shamoradi - are working with Tern TV on a range of current commissions, and will be with the company for 12 weeks as fully paid interns. They will each develop skills in specialist areas, from research and coordinating productions, to assisting with post production and programme development. The posts are based in Glasgow and Belfast.

The InTern internships, a unique collaboration between the University's Division of Communication, Media and Culture and Tern TV, aims to benefit both students and industry, helping students enhance their employability and take their first steps in professional TV production, while their skills are used to address specific industry needs.

Film and Media graduate Sarah McConville said: "I’m incredibly pleased to have been offered a Production Management internship with Tern TV. It will provide me with great professional experience in the area I aim to work in.

"It’s great that the Film and Media degree at Stirling is developing such close links with industry, and can offer such fantastic opportunities for graduates. In such a competitive industry, any help at all is really appreciated. I personally can’t wait to get started."

Dario Sinforiani, Head of Production based the University’s Division of Communications, Media and Culture, said: "The partnership with Tern will allow the students access to people and materials at the top of the Scottish production industry, who can bring a real world perspective to university work and give our graduates knowledge, skills and contacts that they simply couldn't get elsewhere.

"This will be a massive boost to their employment prospects as they leave the university. In addition, the work experience and internship programme will give students their first break in professional production, in a company with a fantastic track record in high end programme making."

David Strachan, Tern TV’s Managing Director, who becomes an Honorary Professor in the department, said: "Stirling is the top Scottish University for Communication and Media Studies in both the Complete University Guide 2014 and the Guardian University Guide 2014.

"We are keen to work with the best students and graduates, and to play our part in aligning their studies as closely as possible to industry needs. We are very pleased that Stirling is so willing to engage in this way. Already we’ve recruited some excellent students in key areas in which there are industry needs."

The internships are being funded through the Santander Universities SME Internship Programme, with input from the University’s Career Development Centre, who work with local companies to help students and graduates gain workplace experience through full-time paid internships.

For more information on the Santander Universities SME Internship Programme, please visit www.stir.ac.uk/santander

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