While many of his classmates headed to Barcelona for the semester’s optional study trip, 26-year-old Frederik Lorenzen chose a different path. Instead, he took part in International Week, a long-standing tradition at the IBA International Business Academy in Kolding, where Frederik is studying Multimedia Design.
“In a way, International Week is like travelling abroad, because you get to meet people from all over the world,” he explains.
And that is absolutely true. During International Week, a wide variety of languages can be heard around the IBA, although English naturally serves as the common language. Students from numerous countries travel to Kolding to participate. Most recently, the event welcomed 200 students and lecturers.
“I love experiencing how our countries differ, even though one thing that really stands out is how much earlier classes start here in Denmark compared with Portugal, where I come from,” says José.
At the IBA, the international students were placed in mixed groups together with Danish students who had also enrolled in the programme.
“There is a great deal of cultural exchange when you meet so many new people. When students from 37 different countries come together, you very quickly build a wide network of international contacts,” Frederik explains.
During International Week, students take part in programmes that match their fields of study. Working in groups, they tackle a substantial project that requires both collaboration and academic depth. Frederik’s group was tasked with designing the concept for a mobile app that would help international visitors get even more out of a visit to Koldinghus Castle, one of Kolding’s most popular attractions.
“It is an exciting project to work on with international students because they are also the ideal target audience. They know exactly what it is like to visit a Danish museum without speaking the language,” says Frederik.
International Week takes place several times a year at the IBA, with participation offered to different study programmes on a rotating basis. It is just one of many opportunities available to IBA students who wish to build international connections and give their education a global perspective.
The opportunities also include study-abroad and internship placements, supported by the IBA’s International Office. The IBA has partnership agreements with institutions across much of the world, and new countries are continually being added.
The IBA also has a Case Team that competes in international talent competitions focused on solving ambitious academic and business challenges. The next competition will take place in Maastricht, in the Netherlands. Most students are eligible to apply to represent the IBA, but participants for the Case Team are carefully selected through a highly competitive application process.
“At the IBA, you can really feel that the international environment is a priority. It is reflected both in everyday student life and in the many opportunities available to you while studying here,” says Frederik Lorenzen.
