Transition from studies to the real world of work in Denmark - Insights into the challenges of international engineering graduates
Authors
Kulova, Dilyana Emilova ; Luca, Cristina-Ovidia
Term
4. term
Education
Publication year
2016
Submitted on
2016-12-20
Pages
104
Abstract
Danmark har i de senere år fået stigende interesse i at fastholde internationale dimittender på arbejdsmarkedet, især af økonomiske grunde. Der findes dog kun få studier, der belyser området. Dette speciale søger at udfylde den videnmangel ved at give et helhedsblik på de udfordringer, som nyuddannede internationale ingeniører møder, når de vælger at blive i Danmark og søge job i ingeniørbranchen. Vi gennemfører en eksplorativ caseundersøgelse med en mixed methods-tilgang, dvs. en kombination af kvalitative og kvantitative data. Konkret har vi lavet 12 semistrukturerede interviews med internationale ingeniørdimittender, som har taget deres videregående uddannelse i Danmark og er blevet her efter endt uddannelse. Derudover har 13 danske ingeniørvirksomheder deltaget i en kvantitativ online-undersøgelse for at belyse arbejdsgivernes perspektiv og supplere interviewresultaterne. Vi analyserer data på tre niveauer: individuelt, organisatorisk og institutionelt. Fortolkningen bygger på relevante teorier, herunder neoklassisk teori (incitamenter på arbejdsmarkedet), Bourdieus kapitalbegreb (kompetencer, netværk og kvalifikationer), kommunikativ tilpasning (hvordan man tilpasser sin kommunikation på tværs af kulturer) og diversitetsledelse (håndtering af mangfoldighed i organisationer). Hovedresultaterne beskriver internationale dimittenders erfaringer og barrierer i overgangen fra uddannelse til arbejde, arbejdsgiveres holdninger til at ansætte internationale ingeniører samt betydningen af europæiske og danske politikker for arbejdsmarkedsintegration, mangfoldighed og mobilitet. Samlet peger studiet på, at forbindelsen mellem internationale dimittender og danske virksomheder er en kompleks integrationsproces, som kræver koordineret støtte på alle tre niveauer. Resultaterne kan bruges af nuværende og kommende internationale studerende, politiske beslutningstagere, danske virksomheder og forskere, der arbejder med integration og beskæftigelse af internationale dimittender.
In recent years, Denmark has shown growing interest in retaining international graduates for economic reasons, yet few studies examine how this plays out in practice. This thesis addresses that gap by offering a holistic view of the challenges faced by newly graduated international engineers who choose to stay in Denmark and seek work in the engineering sector. We conduct an exploratory case study using a mixed-methods design, combining qualitative and quantitative data. Specifically, we carried out 12 semi-structured interviews with international engineering graduates who obtained their higher education in Denmark and remained in the country after graduation. In addition, 13 Danish engineering companies participated in a quantitative online survey to capture the employer perspective and complement the interview findings. We examine the data at three levels: individual, organizational and institutional. Our interpretation draws on relevant theories, including neoclassical theory (labour-market incentives), Bourdieu’s forms of capital (skills, networks and credentials), communication adaptation (how people adjust communication across cultures) and diversity management (how organizations handle workforce diversity). The main findings describe the barriers and experiences in the transition from higher education to work, employers’ attitudes toward hiring international engineering graduates, and the influence of European and Danish policies on labour-market integration, diversity and mobility. Overall, we find that connecting international graduates with Danish companies is a complex integration process that requires coordinated support at all three levels. These insights are useful for current and prospective international students, policymakers, Danish companies and researchers interested in the integration and employment of international graduates.
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