Students mentored on Danish jobs

Thirty-seven lucky students met Danish mentors to discuss working life

by Afton Halloran

A select group of students finally met up with their mentors Wednesday night, at an event designed to match up non-Danish students with companies.

It was all organised by the alumni association, Kubulus.

The 27 students, a fraction of the 57 who applied in November, were from all faculties and representing various nationalities. They sat face to face with their Danish mentors hailing from such companies and organizations as Nordea and Friluftsrådet (Danish Outdoor Council).

At the kick off event, mentors and mentees were separted to different tables and bombarded with thought-provoking questions to prepare them for meeting one another.

Romanian looking for food career

Both mentors and mentees peered curiously around the room trying to guess who their match was.

Then: Mentors and mentees finally had the chance to meet: The quiet room turned into a bustling conversation between eager students and Danish company reps.

One international remarked that this experience was a great opportunity to gain insight into the Danish job world and find a career after graduation.

»I applied for the programme to understand what skills the food science job market is looking for,« says Andrei Prodan, a life sciences student from Romania.

Read about American student Elizabeth's mentor experiences here..

No longer an 'old boys club' model

So why would those with the jobs want to volunteer their time? According to one mentor he and his company was interested in the programme because they wanted to know how to attract foreign talent.

Another joked that he wanted to try to »find out what they really teach them in university these days«.

Contrary to traditional, top-down mentoring models, the programme organizers encourage the mentor-mentee couples to learn from one another, not just from the mentor, according to Kubulus' Mentor Programme Officer, Signe Nielsen.

»We hope that this programme will help students get an idea of job market possibilities and learn more about corporate culture. It is also our hope that students will get to know people in companies that they find attractive to their career,« adds Nielsen.

Read: Mentor may get you a Danish job.

uni-avis@adm.ku.dk

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