National College of Ireland's Career Services beat off stiff competition from a number of universities and institutes of technology, including neighbouring TCD and DCU, to win the AHECS Employability Award for Career Services at the gradireland Graduate Recruitment Awards.

NCI's submission for the award involved partnership with over 30 employers to develop a targeted, personalised and outcome-focused career provision for undergraduates.

"Many undergraduate students have limited or no professional networks available to them," says Caroline Kennedy, careers and opportunities officer at NCI.

“To maximise the probability of students reaching their potential, NCI's careers service focuses on events that mirror the graduate recruitment process, that are interactive and involve personalised feedback and networking opportunities.”

The result? Based on a robust 88% response to First Destination Reports, the college has achieved a 98% graduate employment rate, with 86% employed in graduate level roles.

"We're a very strong team here in NCI careers services and we're lucky to work with committed students and collaborative employers," says Kennedy, "we're so proud and delighted to win this award and happy to share it with all who contributed."