Employability

The labour market is becoming more and more dynamic and as a recently graduated student you cannot be certain of a job within your discipline anymore. Therefore, it is highly important that the University of Groningen prepares its students adequately for the labour market. This can be done by for example giving more attention to the development of 21st century skills, by stimulating entrepreneurship and by organizing a university wide careers week.

Employability within the study programme
  • Connections to the labour market as a part of your degree program
  • Guest lectures by (young) alumni in the second semester of the first year, in which they can share their experience. In that way students will be stimulated in an early stage of their study to think about their future career.
  • Teachers need to emphasize the fit between the course content and the future labour market.
  • Inviting every student to follow a course at Next after they passed 100 ECTS. For example courses in writing a CV or motivation letter.
  • Offering an interactive lecture at the end of a study that gives more insights in how to find work after graduation.
More attention to developing 21st century skills

21st century skills are amongst others teamwork, international competencies, entrepreneurship and leadership skills, and digital skills. These skills need to be part of every study. Interdisciplinary projects are a good way to promote the development of these skills.

Greater availability of internships

Internships are a good preparation for your future career. Therefore, it needs to be possible to fill available room within a degree program with an internship or to receive an acknowledgement of internships on the degree certificate to explain possible study delays. Internships need to be tested in order to secure the value of a degree. Study associations can take a facilitating role within this program by connecting students to companies and possible internships.

More possibilities to write a thesis outside of the university

It is not only a valuable educational experience to write your thesis at a company, but it is also an opportunity to develop your own network and to find a job later on. Therefore, it should be possible for all students to write their thesis in cooperation with an external party.

Introduction of a university-wide careers week

We are enthusiastic supporters of a university wide careers week and think that the planning of the academic year has to accommodate for this. During the week different career activities will be organized at the faculties, for example CV checks, workshops for writing a CV or motivation letter, networking activities with companies and LinkedIn photoshoots. In the organization of the career week study associations can play an important role and should be supported in this by the University of Groningen. Study associations could profit from the large scale in which this week will be organized.

Better connections to local industries

Good connection with local industries make Groningen a more attractive city to study and live in after your study. Guest lectures and local business days, for example during a university wide careers week, can facilitate the contact between students and local businesses.

More and better use of guest lectures

Sometimes students wonder whether or not the studied course content will be of any use in their future career. Guest lectures are a good way to connect the course content to the business world. We therefore believe that the University of Groningen should invite more guest lectures.

Young Alumni Network

In response to Lijst Calimero’s memo the Young Almuni Network (YAN) will be installed. We will remain critical and constructive in the development of the YAN, so that the added value for students and young alumni will be secured.