During the MIT European Career Fair March 5 through 8 organized by and held on the grounds of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge, near Boston USA. Hilbrand Wijbenga by Ventura Systems was present for the ICD during the event, as part of the initiative Make it in the North.
In addition to Hilbrand, the delegation included Sietse Dijkstra (Beethoven North), Erald Sula (University of Groningen)). They were again part of a broader Dutch representation organized through The Netherlands Point of Entry .
International attention for northern Netherlands
The Make it in the North initiative aims to introduce young talent from abroad to opportunities in the Northern Netherlands. MIT's European Career Fair ties in well with this. During this event, European companies, universities and organizations come into contact with students interested in an international career.
During the fair, many conversations were held with ambitious engineering students. Many of them showed interest in a career in a region where technology, innovation and collaboration are key.
Interest in internships and career opportunities
It was striking that several students had already studied the opportunities in the Northern Netherlands. Some visited the booth with a concrete goal: to get more information about a possible internship or summer internship at companies in the region.
Other students were surprised by the large number of high-tech companies located in the northern Netherlands. International names such as Philips and BD Kiestra were already familiar to several students. This contributed to a positive image of the regional innovation ecosystem.
The collaboration within the ICD also drew attention. Students found it interesting that several high-tech companies in the region work intensively together on technological development and innovation.
Work-life balance important for young talent
Another topic came up regularly during the interviews: work-life balance. For many students, this plays an increasingly important role when choosing an employer or region.
The Netherlands is internationally known for a good work-life balance. For students from the United States, this made the region extra attractive as a place to work or gain experience.
Strengthening international visibility
Participation in the European Career Fair at MIT can be considered a success. The event generated a lot of interest among students to work, collaborate or do internships in the Northern Netherlands.
At the same time, such initiatives contribute to the international visibility of the region and of the high-tech network around the ICD.
