Collaborations between students and companies generate great value

By Marlene Jørgensen, marl@sam.sdu.dk

It was no coincidence that Jonas Poulsen chose to study an Economics and Business Administration bachelor’s programme in Digitalisation and Business Development at SDU Business School.

First of all, he was looking for an education programme with a strong link between economics and business understanding. And it was also a big plus for him that students have the opportunity to collaborate with a host company for three semesters of the programme.

- The interplay between my studies and the business world is very rewarding because I get to apply what I’m learning in class in a practical context. This means that as students we get a good point of access to the labour market as an integral part of our education – it’s quite unique, says Jonas Poulsen.

The theory becomes more tangible

He is now well into an internship with the Nic. Christiansen Gruppen car concern, whose head office is in Kolding and has operations throughout the Nordic and Baltic countries. Jonas is assigned to the company’s Business Intelligence unit, which is responsible for distributing and disseminating data to the entire business.

- It’s exciting to have the opportunity to test theories in practice, and I think that the theories become more tangible when you have an in-depth knowledge of a company and can see or ask how they approach different tasks and challenges, says Jonas Poulsen.

During his internship, Jonas Poulsen has helped to carry out analyses of the company’s data and reporting as part of a larger optimisation of the company’s processes. He has also drawn up an annual cycle of work of the department’s recurring activities and is also investigating the various systems and databases in the field of business intelligence.

Professional and personal growth

- These are often quite complex systems, so it’s a development process in which I constantly get the opportunity to build on more and more. It works really well, and I can already feel that I’ve gained a strong professional insight into how to work with data and statistics in a large business, says Jonas Poulsen and adds:

- I have no doubt that the knowledge and skills I’m acquiring during my internship at Nic. Christiansen Gruppen will benefit me enormously in my future working life.

Jonas Poulsen has also grown on a personal level during his internship:

- I have also developed personally from being given more and more responsibility and working independently with tasks. And of course, it whets my appetite when I succeed with the tasks, he says.

Enthusiasm from the company

There is also great enthusiasm for the collaboration from the other side of the table. In fact, Jonas Poulsen’s contact at Nic. Christiansen Gruppen, Jonas Lehrskov, is himself a former student from SDU.

As a student, he was an intern at Business Kolding before being hired in his fifth semester as a student assistant at Nic. Christiansen Gruppen, where he is currently a Business Intelligence Developer.

Jonas Lehrskov therefore knows how much he himself developed while working with the host company, so the idea of Nic. Christiansen Gruppen hosting a student stems from his own experience.

A win for both parties

- I am convinced that both the students and the company can learn a lot from the collaboration. As a student, you get the opportunity to break out of the familiar framework of your studies, and you get to see how the theories and literature can be put into practice, says Jonas Lehrskov and continues:

- Conversely, in the day-to-day routines and activities of a business, it can sometimes be difficult to get a helicopter view and ask some of the more obvious questions like ‘why are you doing this?’ or ‘have you considered that there’s a smarter way of doing this?’ And this is where I see that we as a company can get a lot out of the meeting with the students.

Jonas Poulsen and the other students bring the latest knowledge from the University, which, according to Jonas Lehrskov, fits well with the company:

- Jonas and I go for a walk or a coffee now and then, and we talk and make sure that Jonas’ knowledge and theoretical insights are brought into play. This brings different perspectives and ideas into the pool than we otherwise would have had. Jonas contributes a great deal, is up for new challenges and we are happy to have him on the team, says Jonas Lehrskov.

Just do it

For Jonas Poulsen, it is still a little too early to say what the future will bring after his studies.

- Right now, I’m focusing on finishing my bachelor’s degree, and then I plan to continue on the MSc in Management and Leadership at SDU. Both the BSc and MSc degrees of Economics and Business Administration offer a wide range of job opportunities, and the experience and skills I am developing in business intelligence at Nic. Christiansen Gruppen are of course a plus to have on my CV, because I’m convinced that data is only going to become more important in business in the future, says Jonas Poulsen.

Both he and Jonas Lehrskov have some good advice for others when it comes to collaboration between students and companies:

- Just take the plunge and do it! It’s rewarding for both parties, and you won’t regret it.