International internship fair in Martiniplaza

On 18 March 2009, the first Internship and CareerPlaza will take place in Martiniplaza in Groningen. This event will be a meeting place for companies and prospective trainees and is part of the annual Recruiting Noord. The international set-up makes this event very special, the Internship and Career Plaza not only gives students of the University of Groningen and Hanze University the opportunity to meet internationally oriented companies that offer internships but also hosts regional companies that are interested in international students. It is made possible partly due to the Akkoord van Groningen.

Internship and CareerPlaza is an initiative of the University of Groningen and is organised by a team of international students and internship coordinators. The event fits perfectly in line with the university’s aim to stimulate international internships. Language of communication will be English. Frans Zwarts, Rector Magnificus of the University of Groningen, will present an IQ award for the smartest international student and for the smartest Dutch student present, who participated in an IQ test on the spot.

Cross-border contact

The event has an international set-up and aims at stimulating ‘cross-border contact’. A student from China can get to know a company from Groningen in an informal way, just as a student from the North of the Netherlands can meet a company from, for example, the United Kingdom. In addition to company presentations, there will be various workshops and opportunities for ‘speed-dating’.  

International students prefer regional internships

Approximately 2300 international students study at the University of Groningen. They are in need of good information about the labour market. Many of them are required to do an internship and are keen to do so but there are hardly any career events for this target group. International students are especially interested in internships and research projects in our region: being here, they are already abroad and they do not always have the financial resources for travelling far.

International companies

The event also acts as a meeting place for Dutch students and international companies. Approximately 50% of the students at the University of Groningen do one or more interships during their degree programmes. A student who would like to do an internship abroad often spends a lot of time finding a suitable company. By acquainting students with international companies in an informal way, it is easier for them to find out what kind of organisation matches their talents.

The programme runs from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Information

- Contact: Elise Kamphuis, 050 - 363 7182, careeroffice.feb rug.nl