The gift package from the University of Oslo: a top student working 5 months in your company or organization in India -for free.
Humanities knowledge getting a professional boost.
Arild Engelsen Ruud (UIO)
Participating in the new 1-year program un India, is selected students that already finished their Bachelor in South Asia studies at the University in Oslo. Their humanities knowledge, in Hindi, Indian history- and culture, is getting a professional boost. For one semester the Norwegian students will rub shoulders with India’s future leaders at the faculty of management at Delhi University. Following that; 5 months of work experience in a company in India. In your company?
-We want to get in touch with companies that are interested in having an intern for 3-5 months, Professor Arild Engelsen Ruud told me when we met for coffee on the university campus in Oslo.
-It can be an Indian company, a Norwegian company or an international organization in India, Administrative head of studies Hanne Skramstad added.
With their new Internship program, It seems our member the University of Oslo has hit the India wave perfect. Prime minister Modi inviting the whole world to “Make in India”, and the official- and corporate Norway looking at India as never before.
-The program receive Norwegian governmental funding, hence there are no cost involved for the Indian companies, Hanne Skramstad told.
Another NICCI member, NHO (Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise) is supporting the intern project.
-This are though-guys that know their way around in India. They are used to taking care of themselves, professor Engelsen Ruud said. -The students are 23-27 years, already with considerable India experience and carefully selected -also based on their maturity and motivation, he continued.
The “Dream commitment” emphasizing the need of internationalization.
Innovation Norway, the governments most important instrument to develop Norwegian enterprises, recently presented a report with concrete policy proposals; introducing foreign languages at an earlier stage in the educational system and “generate more nuanced views on relevant countries and cultures”
-Many companies lack the competences needed to succeed abroad. This especially apply to necessary insight into relevant markets and their cultural settings, Innovation Norway’s Per Coch, wrote in a recent article.
It’s good to see the value of humanistic currency and soft skills rising. Topping language and cultural skills with some business understanding and networking in India doesn’t seem wrong.
High ambitions on policy level is not enough.
The recipe for success is knowledge and on-ground experience. Hence, this UIO program is obviously one of many small steps required for smooth future Norway-India collaborations.
So, what’s in it for the companies that want to participate?
-They can get one or two energetic Norwegian students participating at the work place for a period of 3-5 months. With their good analytical skills, their experience of processing information, their excellent presentation skills, I am sure they can contribute considerably in projects or in administrative tasks, Hanne Skramstad said.
-Though the students lack industry experience, they are really good at processes, time management, not to mention they are very creative, the professor added.
Does it sound interesting?
All kind of companies and organizations are encourages to apply, or even get in touch if potentially interested. I am sure the students will leave a positive footprint in your organization.
The first placement is January to June 2016, so get in touch with professor Arild Engelsen Ruud straight away.
His email is: a.e.ruud@ikos.uio.no
You can also give him a call on his cellphone +47 99533823