Institution of Civil Engineers and Manchester Business School Worldwide announce winner of the first regional heat in the competition for the ICE Graduates and Students Paper Competition.

Institution of civil engineers (ICE) and Manchester Business School (MBS) Worldwide announce today the winner of the first regional heat in the competition for the ICE Graduates and Students Paper Competition - where the ultimate winner receives a scholarship to an engineering MBA at the coveted Manchester Business School. The competition is open to graduates and students with 4,000-word papers on engineering design research or practice. The winner of the 2007 ICE Graduates and Students Paper Competition will receive a full scholarship (worth GBP14,400) to study for MBS Worldwide's MBA for Engineering Business Managers, as well as a medal and a Thomas Telford book voucher worth GBP150.

In the northwest region, the winner is Mr Kavi Dhunnoo, who is an engineer with Scott Wilson Group plc in Manchester.

Commenting on his achievement, Mr Dhunnoo said: 'The opportunity to do an MBA, which is part of my career development plan, at the prestigious Manchester Business School was a real motivation for entering the competition'.

'This MBA is orientated towards engineers and gaining the knowledge, contacts and improved future prospects was very attractive to me'.

A panel consisting of James Hannah (Fellow of the ICE and ICE Council member), Graham Dalton (Fellow of the ICE and ICE Council member), Dr Alistair Benson, Academic Director from MBS Worldwide and an ICE Graduates and Students Network Committee representative, judge the winning papers from each region.

The top three papers from each region are awarded prizes, which consist of varying amounts of money from GBP100 to GBP500.

The winner from each regional heat is then entered for the national competition, where they are short-listed to five finalists.

This culminates in a Finals competition where the top five scoring candidates present their papers.

The Final is being held at the ICE headquarters in central London on Thursday June 21st 2007.

Commenting on the northwest entries, Peter Hallsworth, ICE North West Chairman said: 'The North West had a total of eight papers submitted and a really difficult choice for the judging panel'.

'The over-riding theme was sustainable engineering and it was obvious that the up and coming generation is concerned about how civil engineers can contribute to creating a viable earth for the future'.

'The judges were impressed by the standard of presentation and the enthusiasm that all the authors brought to the event.' Regional heats are still underway in the West of Scotland, with an entry deadline of 3rd April.