Around 400 students turned up to talk to the companies – primarily 4th-semester students looking for an internship for the next semester. However, students from earlier semesters also attended P-day to explore their future opportunities.

Companies offering concrete opportunities

The event kicked off with the famous One-Minute Madness, where the companies had one minute to make a lasting and positive impression on the students. 

Just before One-Minute Madness began, we met the happy organizer, Associate Professor Henrik Olsen: 

"With 51 companies represented, we are excited to see the concrete job opportunities that our students are presented with today. P-dag is a unique platform where employers meet the engineers of the future and offer a direct path to meaningful careers. The companies bring real challenges and by opening up opportunities for our students, they are helping to shape the next generation of problem solvers – and they are in high demand.

Pictures from P-dag. Photo: Liv Lindhardt Rohde Larsen, AU Photo.

Foundation for future collaboration

P-dag also serves as a platform where companies can present their current challenges and gain fresh perspectives from students who bring the latest knowledge from their education. This helps to create innovation and growth in both small and large, as well as public and private companies. 

We spoke with first-time attendants on P-day, The Independent Evidence Oversight Board and The Danish Police Complaints Authority. Brian Danielsen, IT specialist, attended with his colleagues to offer students a cross-agency project collaboration:

"For us, P-day is a fantastic opportunity to meet the students and present our work in digital forensics. Of course, we hope to spark their interest in the field. This time we offer a project collaboration focusing on securing and documenting digital video and image material. We have great respect for the students' input, and we look forward to learning from them as well. At the same time, they get the opportunity to dive into an exciting field and receive a lot of support and guidance."

Brian Danielsen, IT Specialist, The Independent Evidence Oversight Board and The Danish Police Complaints Authority. Photo: Liv Lindhardt Rohde Larsen, AU Photo.

Another first-time participant is PhoneStamp, which is developing a digital loyalty program. CTO and Co-founder, Morten Tranbjerg said:

“This is our first time here, so we're looking forward to meeting the students and hopefully finding some to collaborate with. We are looking for a software student – ideally, someone who has knowledge of and experience with machine learning and data – who is interested in collaborating on a bachelor's or master’s project. It could also be an internship. The person will work closely with me and will experience that what we develop quickly goes into production. There is also a high potential for having a great influence in our small company.”

CTO and co-founder of PhoneStamp, Morten Tranberg. Photo: Liv Lindhardt Rohde Larsen, AU Photo.

Among the returning companies on P-day, although with a new name, was the consultancy firm twoday Minds, which was hoping to find two software students for internships. We spoke to Software Developer Martin Stokholm, who explained what future engineering interns can expect:

"You get a solid insight into what it means to work as a consultant. Interns are assigned to real projects, where they get the opportunity to work on both frontend and backend. In addition, they will be assigned a mentor – a technically skilled and experienced person to consult with, which ensures that you always have someone to turn to. As an intern, you are quickly allowed to tackle real tasks, and within just a few weeks, you’ll feel like you’ve learned a lot.

Martin, who is a recent software engineering graduate from our department, reflects on the strengths that future interns can potentially bring with them

"One of the most important things I take with me from here is the ability to work project-oriented. It has enabled me to contribute at all stages of a project, and I see that as a great strength."

Software Developer at twoday Minds, Martin Stokholm. Photo: Liv Lindhardt Rohde Larsen, AU Photo.

Another consultancy that is also a recurring participant on P-day is Delegate. Here we spoke with current intern, software student Rune Gram Sand, who had specific considerations in relation to choosing an internship:

"I chose a company that I fit into as a person – technology came second. That said, I am pleasantly surprised by the technologies I have had the opportunity to work with. Delegate holds several monthly social events, which are, of course, voluntary to attend, but I attend as many as possible.”  

Rune Gram Sand (number two from the left) with his Delegate colleagues. Photo: Liv Lindhardt Rohde Larsen, AU Photo.

At the company Init, we also spoke with their current intern, electrical energy technology student, Lasse Dalsgaard Jensen, who works with aquaculture, which is one of the company's nine business areas. He attended P-day to share his experiences of being an intern at Init with the students:

“For me, there’s been a perfect balance between taking ownership of processes and projects while receiving help when needed. You work on things that will be implemented in real life – because you feel that something is at stake, you put in the extra effort."

Lasse Dalsgaard Jensen (first from the right) with his Init colleagues. Photo: Liv Lindhardt Rohde Larsen, AU Photo.

A steppingstone for students

For the students, P-day represents the first step in their engineering careers. Meeting the companies allows them to gain insight into the specific tasks and challenges they may become part of in the future while also providing valuable contacts that can lead to internships.

We met Jonas Just Hansen, who is studying electrical energy technology in the 4th semester and is looking for an internship for the next semester. He dreams of being allowed to apply what he has learned at the studio in a slightly larger context:

" I hope to find a company where I can go beyond the scope of semester projects. I want to be part of a bigger project and feel that I play an important role. I’m willing to commute for the right internship." 

Pictures from P-day: Photo: Liv Lindhardt Rohde Larsen, AU Photo.

Healthcare technology engineering student, currently in her 3rd semester, Therese Cecilie Mørup Kjeldsen, also attended to talk to the companies, even though her internship is not happening next semester. This P-day did not have a track specifically for healthcare technology, as this particular study program does not have winter intake. Despite this, Therese was surprised by how many people wanted to discuss future opportunities with her being a healthcare technology engineering student.

"In healthcare technology, we are well-connected with each other across semesters, and I have been told that it is an advantage to start early with building relationships with the companies. Today, I have spoken to several IT companies that also offer internships to healthcare technology engineering students, so I am positively surprised at how many options are open to me.”

Education of the future

The Vice Dean of Education at the Faculty of Technical Sciences, Aarhus University, Finn Borchsenius, also made his way past P-day to discuss the master-level educational reform and greet some of the companies. He said:

"It is wonderful to witness the dialogue between the students and the companies. Many of today's conversations lead to internships, which in time can turn into long-term employment.”

Finn Borchsenius also had the opportunity to attend the intense One-Minute Madness session:

"It was interesting to see and hear how the companies try to capture the interest of the students with different tactics – I wish them the best of luck in the battle to employ the engineering interns."

Finn Borchsenius, Vice Dean of Education, spoke to the crowd. Photo: Liv Lindhardt Rohde Larsen, AU Photo.

The next P-day is March 7, 2025. Registration opens in mid-January 2025 on this page.

Contact

Henrik Olsen, Associate Professor
Email: ho@ece.au.dk
Phone: +45 4189 3242