International meeting to enhance the employability of students at the University of Caldas

Within the framework of the development of work package No. 3 of the IBERO4JOBS project, from March 30 to April 12, the rector of the University of Caldas, Fabio Hernando Arias Orozco, the head of the Internationalization Office, Margarita María López, the dean of the Faculty of Engineering, María Helena Mejía, and four professors and program directors of the same faculty, will travel to a meeting with European universities to exchange successful experiences and methodologies that will strengthen the relationship of students with the business community, even before finishing their studies.

The University of Vigo in Spain and the Polytechnic Institute of Porto in Portugal will be the institutions that will host this team to implement joint work to improve the employability opportunities of students, as well as to discuss and share successful methodologies that can be replicated at the University of Caldas.

“The purpose of the meeting is to improve the employability of our students and ensure that when they finish their studies they already have work experience and can be linked to the business sector. This is a win-win for the University, for companies and above all for students,” says María Helena Mejía, dean of the Faculty of Engineering.

European universities have successful models of theoretical and practical training that facilitate the transition from learning to employment and respond to the skills and needs demanded by the labour market.

Dean Mejía adds that the plan is to carry out a pilot test for 2024-2 with the Food Engineering, Occupational Health and Safety Technology and Logistics Technology programs, in which the knowledge acquired at the meeting can be applied and the shared methodologies, experiences and good practices can be transferred.

This meeting is part of the IBERO4JOBS project, an initiative that seeks to take advantage of the expertise and knowledge of European universities so that they can transfer their methodologies for articulation with the business sector to partner universities in order to improve employability and contribute to the sustainable growth of the region.