Photo: Sarah-Maria Scheid. ‘Career Day – not for me’, was the title of Maurice Schoo’s column last week. Other students criticised the range of businesses present at the career day as well. Student Career Services Manager Astrid van Noordenburg says they are working on it ‘one step at a time.’
The students are particularly disappointed in the range of businesses, an article on Career Day states. Moreover, the majority of the businesses operate within the food industry. ‘They are correct, I admit’, says Van Noordenburg, who is one of the organisers. Career Day offers students an opportunity to meet businesses on campus.
‘For students of, for example, social sciences, there are limited options. Businesses must have vacancies’, says Van Noordenburg. Moreover, not all organisations can simply show up. ‘Businesses in the international development sector, for example, often reside abroad and can’t come. Development organisations have many openings for volunteers but fewer for employees under contract as they often face financial challenges. Hence, we have decided to slash the fees for NGOs and start-ups by 50% as of 1 January 2024.’
There are growth opportunities for Career Day, in spite of the students’ criticism, says Van Noordenburg. Particularly in, among others, international development or management consultancy. ‘Businesses in the social sciences sector reach out almost weekly wanting to collaborate. Businesses are increasingly well able to find us. The Government Service for Dutch Entrepreneurs (RVO) recently, and last week, several NGOs and the World Bank contacted me. It takes time, but we will continue to grow, one step at a time.’
Van Noordenburg organises webinars for businesses that are popular among students, but that are unable to come to the career day. ‘The Inter-American Development Bank, for example. We are also conducting preliminary talks with the OECD and the UN for webinars and further collaboration. This will allow students to get to know these organisations. Additionally, jointly with the programme directors of MID, MDR and MIL, we organise an annual career event for students aiming to work in international development. During this event, some 15 alums discuss their work.’
WUR is the only university that organises its own career day, Van Noordenburg clarifies. ‘At other universities, it is the study associations that organise such events, or a regional approach is taken. In Wageningen, some study associations organise career days with employers relevant to their sector.’ The next Career Day is on 6 February 2024.