During 2011, Dialog significantly ramped up its relations with key universities throughout the UK and Europe. As well as giving the company access to the brightest graduate talent, it has also afforded us the opportunity to give something back to the community. During 2011 we sponsored three electronic engineering students from UK universities through the UK Electronic Skills Foundation, an organisation which aims to attract students of school and university age into the electronics industry. We are committed to a further three for 2012, and have an on-going commitment for an addition three per year.
Dialog has also kicked off a programme of industrial scholarships within European Universities, notably Karlsruhe and Aalen universities in Germany. During 2011 we sponsored one scholar at each university who received a laptop, an annual bursary, paid work placements, opportunities for summer jobs, and an industrial mentor. The target is to add a further four scholars during 2012 at other universities.
During 2011 Dialog has started to provide prizes and bursaries for various degree programmes, such as two “access bursaries” of £1,000 each at the University of Edinburgh to assist low-income engineering students; and giving cash prizes for best second year project of £800 at Imperial College London.
The range of other activities the company has been involved in during 2011 includes careers counselling for students, lectures from Dialog engineers as part of university curriculum content, presentations to schools from engineers and employees about electronics as an industry, an active work experience programme, visits to Dialog sites and participation in schools careers days.
In addition, we have a formal policy to match all employee contributions or funds raised for charitable causes that are important to our employees and the community.