Afbeelding
“One of the best things about the bachelor’s degree in International Business is the endless possibilities it offers – whether it’s the minors available globally, like my incredible exchange semester in Thailand, or internships and networking events that help us develop our professional identities. While there are some subjects I’m less passionate about, NHL Stenden’s innovative Design-Based Education approach makes them easier to understand, and the university provides plenty of support to help us succeed.”
What a steel!
“I've always been interested in equality and environmental protection, which inspired me to take action on the issues affecting our planet. I wanted to contribute to addressing the current environmental and social challenges, and my internship at Italian company Feralpi Group, as a sustainability trainee, allowed me to do just that. It was incredibly fulfilling to work on something that had meaning for not only the company but also for society.”
“Normally, when you think of sustainability, a steel manufacturer isn’t the first thing that comes to mind; however, now knowing that 98% of the steel at the company is recycled or reused made me feel confident I had chosen the right place for my internship. That said, being an intern in a big multinational company in your early twenties is no easy feat. Adapting to the workflow, getting to know colleagues, understanding the processes and the sector, and learning how to use their software and platforms – it’s all a big adjustment. And yet, this experience became the springboard for my career because it equipped me with valuable learning moments, highlighted areas for improvement, and gave me a greater sense of who I am and who I want to be.”
“My tasks during the internship were varied, but the main focus was on helping to integrate the new ESRS (European Sustainability Reporting Standards) into the company’s value chain, which was challenging though rewarding. I had a supportive role to the team but also had my own tasks to do. These made all the difference for me and gave me a lot of independence. For instance, I developed an Excel sheet bringing together all the knowledge the sustainability team needed to implement the ESRS, which then served as a starting point to conduct a gap analysis to further improve the process. My time at Feralpi Group was great because I finally put myself in the environment I am studying for, and I was able to integrate properly, even with some setbacks.”
Turning ambition into action
“Internships allow you to understand what it’s really like in the working world. I loved that my internship exposed me to all kinds of jobs because it gave me options to consider for my future career. And it was a perfect opportunity to grow professionally while helping me understand corporate dynamics firsthand. I improved on every goal I set myself, and even though it was hard, I wouldn’t have changed a thing – not even the boring tasks!”
Find out more about International Business on the programme website and check out the study abroad opportunities we offer.