Actuarial science student Alyssa Yew has won Intern of the Year on her placement year at Travelport, a distribution, technology, payment solutions for the travel and tourism industry.
Studying BSc (Hons) Actuarial Science with a Year in Industry at the University’s School of Mathematics, Statistics and Actuarial Science (SMSAS), Alyssa was recognised for her development and commitment as an intern at Travelport at an award ceremony held by the company. Fellow interns, a panel and a selection of mystery voters were involved in the voting process.
As an exchange student from Malaysia, Alyssa transferred to Kent for her second year. During her placement at Travelport she worked in the business intelligence department, dealing with a vast amount of data, and assisting the customer success team with insights and information on the trends of the travel industry.
Since her internship, Alyssa is considering a career in the travel industry after experiencing that actuary roles are needed in a variety of industries, beyond the insurance industry itself.
Alyssa said: ‘I am delighted to have won Intern of the Year. I went into this internship knowing that I want to be an actuary in the future in a life insurance company. Yet, ever since I stepped foot into the travel industry, I realised that there is so much more out there to explore. Instead of limiting myself I am planning to apply for graduate jobs to different roles and industries that interest me.
‘My advice to students considering taking a placement year is to try to get involved in as many projects as possible. We are still students, and we are on placement to learn. So, don’t be afraid to make mistakes or ask questions. The more you put into it, the more you get out of it!’