FOUR students of Mona School of Business and Management (MSBM) left the island on July 1 to take up summer internship positions with audit firm Ernst & Young (EY) in New York.

They are Kerry-Ann Reid, Ronique Johnson, and Davian Samuels who are pursuing bachelor’s degrees in accounting; and Jody-Ann Lawrence who is pursuing a masters in the same field. They were selected for the 2015 programme based on their stellar performance at Ernst & Young Jamaica during the internship segment of the Ernst&Young/ UWI Accounting Co-op Programme, and will join some of the world’s top students in the taxation department.

“MSBM is proud to have our students engaged in such a great opportunity to practise accounting at a high level,” said Michael Williams, head of the MSBM finance and accounting unit. “We are excited to see that within a two-year span The Ernst & Young/ UWI Accounting Co-op Programme has not only provided our students with hands-on experience, but also with international exposure.”

Meanwhile, Country Managing Partner at Ernst & Young Jamaica Allison Peart, noted that she too, benefited greatly from the Ernst & Young (EY) international experience”.

“Providing this international assignment to our local university students at the EY office in New York allows them to gain international experience at a young age and it embodies many elements of EY’s commitment to building a better working world including developing future leaders and creating inclusive, borderless teams,” she said.

The Ernst&Young UWI Accounting Co-op Programme started in 2013. It responds to the demand for experienced graduates, by aligning students with partner companies. Participants in the local co-op programme gain invaluable work experience and get the opportunity to earn as they study.

“The programme represents a paradigm shift as the UWI reinforces its commitment to producing work-ready graduates by creating platforms for “on the job training”, the university said.