Every year, we see an increase in the proportion of international KEA students getting their internship in Denmark. One of the reasons behind is our great effort to ensure that international students get internships – and jobs – in Denmark.
Since KEA started registering this, the percentage has been heading in one direction only: Upwards! Every year, the proportion of international students taking their internship in Denmark has grown. By 2020, 87 percent of KEA's international students will have been in internship in Denmark.
At the same time, we see a small decrease in the number of students who go on internship in their home country. When international students do their internship outside of Denmark, it doesn’t necessarily take place in their home country – it might as well be in the UK, Germany or one of the other Nordic countries. Furthermore, some Danish students also choose to take their internship abroad.
"In recent years, Kea has been working hard at getting more international students in internship in Danish companies. Because we believe internship plays an important in our retention efforts. During their internship, international students not only learn more about their line of studies, but also about how the Danish labour market works, how the culture is and what is required from Danish workers. These are all factors that can motivate and help them to land in a job in Denmark later on," says Eva Valcke, Director of KEA Career & Relations and KEA LearningLab.
The internship period plays a very important role for international students in getting a job in Denmark, because they get a taste for the Danish labour market. However, it is not the only important player:
“A lot of elements play their part in spreading knowledge of the Danish job market: We have our mentor scheme and intercultural workshops focussing on the Danish labour market and on Danish culture, our LinkedIn courses, relevant student jobs and our Career Fair where participating businesses all bring openings for both Danish and international students,” Eva Valcke says.
And Covid-19 cannot take credit for the great percentage getting internship in Denmark. Because the rate has been steadily rising throughout the years, and also, Covid-19 actually caused some international students to return home.
The INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS AT KEA REALLY WANT TO REMAIN IN DENMARK, and a lot end up in great jobs.
That is why we are once again holding our MADE@KEA event, where former international KEA students tell their story, and give advice to current international students and alumni on how best to go from study to job and what to prepare for in the Danish organisational culture – e.g. the very flat structure and why we eat so much cake at the office.
PROGRAMME
16:00-16:10 Welcome by Eva Valcke, Director of KEA Career & Relations
16:10-17:10 Key note by KayXander Mellish
17:20-18:00 KEA Alumni panel
18:00-18:30 Network session
THE ALUMNI PANEL
Toni Prodan, Transformation Consultant, Danske Bank.
- Business Economics and IT
Polly Bosworth, Senior Brand Designer, Trustpilot
- Multimedia Design
- Design Business - Brand Design
Kata Borsi, Business Development Representive, Queue-it
- Design Technology - Marketing & Communication
- Design Business - Brand Design
Luke Boschoff, Director, Northern Layers
- Production Technology
- Product Development and Integrative Technology
Catalina Boznea, Frontend Developer, Tradeshift
- Computer Science
- Software Development
Herine Tsui, Regional Manager APAC, Trollbeads
- Jewellery, Technology and Business
Lau Pop, Senior Frontend Developer, Nordea Markets
- Multimedia Design
- Web Development
Matthew Thomson, Constructing Architect MAK, BIG - Bjarke Ingels Group
- Architectural Technology and Construction Management
