UK to host inaugural OneUK Talent Day Sept. 8, bringing corporate collaborators to campus
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Aug. 21, 2026) — The University of Kentucky will welcome OneUK companies to campus Tuesday, Sept. 8, for the first OneUK Talent Day, an event designed to deepen connections between industry leaders, faculty and students.
Representatives from several OneUK corporate collaborators will participate in the daylong event, which includes coordinated speaking engagements in UK classrooms and dedicated time to connect with faculty and students across campus.
OneUK Talent Day gives partner companies a focused opportunity to engage with UK groups and resources while building brand awareness among students who may become future employees, according to event organizers.
“The most impactful partnerships are built on relationships, shared goals and a commitment to creating opportunities for others,” said Kim Kluemper, director of UK Business Engagement. “Through OneUK, we're making it easier for companies to connect with the people and resources across the University of Kentucky while helping students explore careers, build networks and gain insight from industry leaders. OneUK Day is a celebration of those connections and the long-term value they create for both our partners and our university community.”
Following breakfast, which will be provided at the event, each company will follow an individualized schedule of classroom visits, allowing representatives to speak directly with students in courses aligned with their industries and connect with those who may be interested in employment after graduation.
At midday, attendees will gather for a lunch featuring a panel discussion highlighting successful OneUK partnerships and the impact of collaboration between UK and its industry partners.
Companies will then have an opportunity to hear from groups of students during a session titled “Exploring Innovative Recruiting Pathways at UK.” The session will showcase how experiential learning opportunities and extracurricular involvement help students develop leadership abilities, professional competencies and workforce-ready skills that prepare them for future careers.
The day will conclude with a OneUK Collaborator Showcase, 3-4:30 p.m. at the UK Cornerstone. During the showcase, each company will host a table featuring career information, recruitment materials and giveaways.
Open to all students and faculty, the event offers a more relaxed and relationship-focused environment than a traditional career fair, giving attendees the chance to meet with company representatives ahead of UK's formal career fair.
OneUK Talent Day reflects the program’s signature approach to engagement by providing collaborators with a highly curated experience designed to foster meaningful, long-term relationships among faculty, students and industry. By creating intentional opportunities for connection and collaboration, the event highlights the shared value that can be achieved when industry and higher education work together.
For more information about OneUK, visit businessengagement.uky.edu/oneuk.
As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and healthcare. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $1.02 billion research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.