Thousands of international students reside in Denmark in the pursuit of a university degree, qualifying them for an exiting professional life. Many of these students are located in Greater Copenhagen and only few manage to find relevant job opportunities during and after their studies. Recent studies have shown that only 27.7 % of the international students enrolled in higher educational programs in Denmark intend to stay in Denmark after ended studies. We urge to increase this percentage.
Mobility amongst students worldwide has increased in the era of globalization. For instance, the University of Copenhagen hosts 4.400 international students annually, Copenhagen Business School 3.200 and the Technical University of Denmark hosts 550 international students. Many of these students aspire towards a career in Greater Copenhagen after ending their studies, in stead of returning to their countries of origin.
Cultural barriers
However, the possibilities for international students are limited due to a number of barriers. These barriers primarily consist of language and cultural obstacles from both employer and employee perspective. Difficulties regarding job hunt is primarily due to poor Danish language skills among students and due to lacking recruitment in English by corporate life in Greater Copenhagen.
A handful of institutions of further and higher education and a handful of professional organizations in Greater Copenhagen got together among this common concern. In collaboration, we launched project ‘International Students’ International Career’ (ISIC) in Greater Copenhagen, which is co-funded by the EU and Growth Forum Capital Region. The project began in late 2008 and will proceed until early 2011, the project manager lies with IDA, the Danish Society of Engineers. Project ‘International Students’ International Career’ aims at enhancing companies’ recruitment of international students, after ended studies in Greater Copenhagen.
With great ambitions of maintaining international students in Greater Copenhagen, project ‘International Students’ International Career’ works on three levels:
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The meeting in-between the institutions of higher education and corporate life
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The meeting in-between the international students and corporate life
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The meeting in-between the international students and Danish society
During the project, a number of activities will take place, which will be of relevance both for international students as well as various companies. ‘International Students’ International Career’ is an ongoing project and will, as formerly pinpointed, proceed until early 2011.