“A future with prospects”

A packed corridor in the Audimax building, numerous students, a diverse range of company representatives and a live radio broadcast. When this happens, it means once again: ‘Students Meet Business’. For the eighth time, companies from the Kleve district and the wider region came to Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences’ Kleve campus to connect with students. And it was a resounding success – over 40 company representatives engaged with the students and provided information. Whether the topic was work placements, student assistantships, job vacancies or support with Bachelor’s or Master’s theses, there was something for each of the approximately 600 students.

Robert Beinio, the newly elected first chair of the Friends of Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences – Cleve Campus e.V., was keen to attend the event: “I am delighted to be attending this afternoon’s event for the first time and to witness the lively exchange between potential employers and interested students,” said Beinio as he welcomed the international students and exhibitors alongside Vice-President Prof. Dr Peter Kisters. The latter has now attended the event on several occasions and thanked the Friends of Campus Cleve e.V. for once again organising this event, which is so important for Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences.

Whether in the fields of mechanical engineering, logistics or healthcare, the range of opportunities on offer stood out for its diversity and proved hugely popular. “In no time at all, we were practically swept clean – we’ve run out of business cards,” reported Hayriye Ider from the Triopt Group stand. “There are an incredible number of inquisitive young people here who are very interested in our job vacancies.” And it wasn’t just about exchanging information; at some stands, students were able to gain exciting practical insights and, for example, programme a robot.

For some companies, this was their first time taking part in the event; others were returning participants: “We’re always happy to come every year because we’ve already recruited many students through this sort of event. We’ve even brought along a former student from Brazil who wrote her bachelor’s thesis with us and is now a permanent employee,” explained Pauline Schramm, commercial director at Fluxana GmbH & Co. KG. Neovendi, a company from Kalkar, was also back again as another prime example of the success of this event format. “We’ve brought along an employee whom we were able to recruit for our company at this event last year. Today, he’s telling current students at the university about what we do and so has much more direct access to our potential employees of tomorrow,” said Peter Verheyen, Head of Business Development at Neovendi GmbH, expressing his satisfaction. Andrijana Lender from euregio Personaldienstleistungen GmbH also gave a positive assessment: “The students are looking for specific opportunities and are very keen to learn; we spoke for an hour without interruption and had fruitful discussions.”

“Interest in this event is growing year on year,” said Brigitte Jansen, Managing Director of the Friends of the University Association, and her colleague Irina Tönnißen in unison. Whether it was the Clivia Care Centre from Kleve or Wystrach GmbH, the hydrogen specialist from Weeze – whether it was KLK from Emmerich am Rhein or GOFA Gocher Fahrzeugbau – they all had their sights set on one goal: attracting young people to a future within their own companies.

The local radio station Antenne Niederrhein covered the event with a live broadcast and reported from the scene. A small buffet rounded off the discussions in a relaxed atmosphere. There was no doubt that afternoon that the Campus Cleve Support Association had certainly achieved one thing: a contribution that tackles the skills shortage head-on and offers optimistic prospects for the future.