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Pilot projects to promote international graduates in labour market

The Minister for Higher Education and Science has allocated DKK 3 million to five projects with the aim of retaining international graduates in Danish Regions or municipalities that have a need for qualified employees.

New international graduates in Denmark can often offer valuable and qualified resources for Danish companies that lack the manpower to complete certain tasks.

Minister for Higher Education and Science Esben Lunde Larsen therefore allocated DKK 3 million in October to university colleges and academies of professional higher education in October so they can initiate projects aimed at retaining international graduates in Denmark.

The funding has now been divided among five pilot projects, which will be carried out in close cooperation with a number of national and regional organisations.

The Minister for Higher Education and Science stresses that international students offer great value to all corners of the country and a regional effort is therefore important.

- We use quite a lot of money on educating international students. So it also makes sense that they stay and work in Denmark once they graduate. For example, in parts of the country where many companies have a high demand for a qualified workforce. It is therefore crucial that education institutions collaborate with local companies so that international students already develop contacts with the business community while they are studying. And this is something that the pilot projects will help develop, says Esben Lunde Larsen.

The aim of the projects is to create a framework providing students with the opportunity for systematic contact with national and regional companies.

The common factor for the projects is that generally, international students will build a professional network in Denmark, get to know the Danish labour market and learn to navigate it. For example, through language and culture education, internship guidance, mentor schemes or a ambassador corps.

The chosen pilot projects are connected to:

  • Business Academy Southwest
  • Lillebaelt Academy
  • KEA Copenhagen School of Design and Technology, in collaboration with Copenhagen Business Academy and Zealand Institute of Business and Technology
  • University College of Northern Denmark
  • VIA University College

Strategy for retaining international graduates

  • The pilot projects are part of the strategy launched by the minister at the end of October 2015.
  • As part of the strategy, the Ministry of Higher Education and Science will cooperate with higher education institutions and Danish employers on initiatives that support the retention of international graduates.
  • Retaining more international students in Denmark

For further information please contact:

Press adviser Trine Søndergaard, Ministry of Higher Education and Science tel: +45 72318009, e-mail: tri@ufm.dk

Head of Division Lars Beer Nielsen, Danish Agency for Higher Education tel: +45 7231 8910, e-mail: lni@uds.dk