Matchmaking in Vejle will help bring DTU students and graduates around the country.
On the morning of Thursday, 26 August, a bus carrying 33 Danish and international students from DTU in Lyngby headed for the Danish town of Vejle where the Innovation Park—Dandy Business Park—hosted a so-called MatchUp event between the DTU students and LEGO, Ramboll, and Siemens Gamesa—all companies with offices and well-established roots in the local area. The visit also gave the students the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the innovation park which houses start-ups in artificial intelligence (AI), food, and greentech.
The purpose of the trip was to give DTU students the opportunity, for example, to write an MSc thesis or secure an internship with one of the companies—and thus gain a toehold in the job market or in innovative environments. The initiative, which will help bring DTU students and graduates around the country, has become relevant following a broad political settlement before the summer aimed at encouraging universities to move up to ten per cent of their programmes out of the four largest cities in Denmark.
“DTU’s ambition is to benefit society and support growth throughout Denmark. I’m therefore delighted that we can organize such an event. I see it as a first step to greatly enhanced cooperation in the Triangle Region—just as DTU is considering how similar initiatives can take place elsewhere in the country,” says Carsten Orth Gaarn-Larsen, Director for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Senior Vice President.
“I’m particularly pleased that many international students decided to accept the invitation to Vejle. DTU is committed to retaining international students in Denmark. Here, the connection to the labour market is extremely important.”
High demand for engineers
Behind the trip to Vejle are DTU, Vejle Municipality, and the innovation park—Dandy Business Park.
Mayor of Vejle, Jens Ejner Christensen, is delighted with the initiative. He recognizes the high demand for engineers in many of the Triangle Region’s production companies and is therefore particularly interested in working with DTU to increase local companies’ access to DTU’s students.
“We have a close dialogue about how companies in Vejle and students and researchers from DTU can establish effective collaboration in a positive environment—including how we can find housing for the students. Today’s MatchUp event is a great way for all parties to get to know each other and see if there is a basis for cooperation. Vejle Municipality is committed to supporting such events in any way we can,” says Jens Ejner Christensen.
Dialogue with companies
Back on the bus, there is broad consensus that the trip to Vejle has made it easier for the DTU students to meet exciting companies. Fides Hensel from Germany says:
“I came on the trip because it gives me a unique opportunity to meet and talk to the companies relevant to my studies—something which can otherwise prove challenging. I hope that this can lead to a student job or internship next semester.”
Jacob Rolff-Petersen and Christoffer Hansen also welcome the initiative: “It’s an excellent opportunity to meet and talk to companies in other parts of Denmark, and potentially enter into a partnership and write a thesis. The trip makes it easier for us to connect with relevant partners.”
Photo: Vejle Municipality.
In addition to the initiative in Vejle, DTU is working with Roskilde University, Guldborgsund Municipality, Lolland Municipality, and the local business community in Lolland-Falster to create new opportunities for teaching, research, and business during the establishment of the Fehmarn Belt Fixed Link. Here, students and researchers are to be offered accommodation and study stays for shorter or longer periods—e.g. in connection with MSc projects, PhD courses, or courses and summer schools.
In the Skive area, too, there are plans to establish educational colleges where students receive both education and work experience. At the same time, DTU is involved in collaborative initiatives in the Kalundborg area between companies, researchers, and students within the biotech field.