Students from NHL-Stenden pitch there for two graduation projects at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Boston (America). The money for these Scholarships has been made available by FB Oranjewoud Foundation.
Internships and graduation projects are the flavor of engineering courses, according to Joost Krebbekx, program manager of Innovatiecluster Drachten. ,,Students prefer to do internships with renowned high-tech companies. And in turn, those companies like to host the best students. To bring our companies and technical talents from the Northern Netherlands together, we are organizing the Hightech Career Competition.’’
America
Especially for adventurous students there are two graduation assignments with scholarship available at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) in Boston. Together with NHL-Stenden, Krebbekx arranged these assignments during a working visit to America last summer. ’’Thanks in part to a contribution from the FB Oranjewoud Foundation, we can make 10 thousand euros of scholarship available per student for this.’’ During a special pitch round the students can win one of these assignments. Krebbekx: ,,Via a live video connection with WPI in Boston, it will be announced immediately afterwards which students will go on an internship to America next year.''
Speed applications
For the remaining internships, ‘speed applications’ will take place in theater De Lawei in Drachten between the companies of Innovatiecluster Drachten and students of ROC Frisian Gate, Friesland College, Alpha College, Drenthe College, NHL-Stenden, Hanze University Groningen and the University of Groningen. Afterwards, they may go home with an internship contract or graduation assignment. Krebbekx: ,,To make it even more attractive for the students, they can also be ‘tested’ on their competences. The emphasis here is on the so-called 21st century skills. Think of cooperation, communication, creative thinking, self-regulation, social and cultural skills and problem solving.’’ The test consists of a questionnaire and an interview. The students receive the results immediately.
Why HTCC?
,,We find it important that students can continue working on their careers in the Northern Netherlands after their technical education,’’ Krebbekx explains the organization of this internship event. ’’In this way, we hope not only to strengthen the relationship between our companies and technical education, but also to be able to contribute to the retention of technical talent for the future of our region.''
More information and participate? View on HTCC