Employability is understandably one of the most important factors for university students. EIT InnoEnergy Master School graduates already had an exemplary employment rate within six months of graduation; however, the latest numbers show an impressive rate of 94% – an increase of 2% over the previous year!
Not only has employment increased, but more and more graduates choose a career in Europe after graduation. The most recent research shows that 77% of all graduates are placed in Europe (an increase of 5% versus 2020) with Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, France and Sweden being the most popular countries.
As all of these numbers continue to rise, it’s clear that students are receiving the support they need and valuable access to the European energy industry. One of the primary ways this is achieved is through the EIT InnoEnergy Career Centre. which includes activities such as the Career Impact Programme. As Career Centre Coordinator Grace van den Boogaart says, the “EIT InnoEnergy Career Impact Programme is a year-long professional development programme designed to prepare our students for, and give them a smooth transition into, the competitive job market”.
A students’ experience
Central to the Career Impact Programme is matching up students with coaches that range from EIT InnoEnergy alumni to external professionals from industry.
Emilia Chojkiewicz, EIT InnoEnergy Master’s student, explains “My coach – a professional leadership coach – and I were a perfect match. Over the course of the year, my coach and I worked on various different things: we explored social styles and how I interact in a group; we analyzed the synergies and conflicts between different proclivities in my GC Index; we developed my decision-making skills; we worked on accelerating trust with new teams and colleagues; we built my brand; we mediated upon what I could do next.”
Matchmaking events
The way the world networks has undergone a drastic change, making it essential to not only offer engaging online events – but more of them! EIT InnoEnergy offers an impressive calendar of online matchmaking events with EIT InnoEnergy pan-European network of start-ups, scale-ups, and big-name industrial partners.
As Marloes Wichink Kruit, Human Capital Manager at EIT InnoEnergy, explains, “We teach students not to wait until they finish their studies to find a position. Our vision is that once you enter the Master School, your career starts immediately. It’s not like doing a 2-year programme and thinking ‘what’s next?’ – so we connect them to the industry early on and as often as possible!”
Internships from top companies
The Career Centre gives students a foot in the digital door – with access to fully remote and on-site internships from top companies such as Vattenfall, Northvolt, Tesla, Prio Portugal, Seaborg Technologies, Siemens Energy, Vestas, Hardt Hyperloop, Engie Impact, TNO, UNDP, Valmet Automotive, and EDP. Students receive a further advantage, through career webinars, CV checks and interview training!
Career Impact Challenges
The Career Impact Challenges are also an opportunity for ambitious students to put their skills to test by tackling real-life industry challenges while doing some major networking with influential players in Europe’s energy scene.
EIT InnoEnergy student Mexi Sandoval shares his experience at the last Career Impact Challenges, “I loved taking part in CIC. My team and I had excellent synergy during the creative process. For me, this event highlights the importance of collaboration”
Connecting talent with the energy industry
EIT InnoEnergy has continously achieved its goal to connect students with at least 120 placement opportunities within their network each year. The sustainable energy industry is growing even more and set to explode over the next few decades as the European Green Deal turns climate and environmental challenges into real opportunities – and EIT InnoEnergy Master School is committed to providing the industry with the talent it needs.