The Study Abroad Fair, the annual study abroad fair, contributes to the mobility of engineering students, in these particular times of health restrictions linked to COVID-19, by allowing students to exchange directly with ESILV’s partner institutions.
This year, the Pole Leonard de Vinci’s education abroad fair abroad was entirely digital. On November 6, more than 60 universities from all continents went online to interact with students from the three schools, ESILV, EMLV and IIM, and provide answers to all their questions related to higher education travel for the year 2020 – 2021.
At ESILV, more than just a unique way to deal with many different realities, international study and internship experience is part of the mandatory requirements for graduation.
Students are expected to spend at least one semester abroad during the five years of study. They can go abroad in their third and fifth year, by choosing a partner university of the Pole Leonard de Vinci, an internship abroad or a programme in an international scientific research laboratory.
Engineering trainees who continue their fifth year in a partner institution can obtain a double degree abroad.
Global higher education partnerships
By using the digital booths, the students of the 2024 and 2022 classes were able to obtain all the information they needed in real-time from the advisors at the partner institutions. Be it through the Zoom conferences or directly on the online chat, the partners of the Pôle Léonard de Vinci gave a comprehensive presentation of their training and academic exchange programmes.
Among the ESILV partner universities present at this year’s De Vinci Study Abroad Fair were the University of Science and Technology of Hanoi Vietnam, the Institute of Engineering of the Hanze University of Applied Sciences, the School of Management and Engineering Vaud, from Switzerland and the Department of Engineering for Innovation of the University of Salento Italy.
Whether in the fields of information technology, connected objects and security, modelling and numerical mechanics or the biotech health, energy and sustainable cities sectors, the programmes featured by these international universities cover all levels of education, from bachelor’s to PhD.
How to find an engineering internship abroad
The Corporate Partnerships Department was present for a Zoom conference on finding an internship abroad. Top on the agenda of these talks was the process of optimising CVs and cover letters, including project work, cross-disciplinary skills, student competitions and associative experiences acquired in engineering school.
“Each application has to be tailored to the country in which you are applying for an internship. An up-to-date and customised CV and cover letter are also required for each company. And most importantly, you must be active on all professional social networks”. (Sébastien Louet, head of the Corporate Relations Department)
More than just a critical teaching activity during the engineering cycle, soft skills training is also an element of added value that students can add to their CVs.
“The soft skills approach is a point that stands out in comparison to other schools. Soft skills are truly skills that are in demand by partner companies. It also requires a good CV, a good letter of motivation, emphasising academic and personal projects, and preparing for the one-to-one interview”. (Sébastien Louet, Head of Corporate Relations)
The planning and follow-up stages of the application process are critical elements in the search for an international internship.
“It is advisable to prepare an Excel table of your applications: the company’s name, the name of the recruiter, the date of your application, the title of the offer and a link to the offer. This organisation plan helps you to be serious, rigorous and give a good image of yourself”. (Sébastien Louet, head of the Corporate Relations Department)
Mastering the art of networking in these times of crisis requires the activation of the LinkedIn network. “It is worth knowing that there are about 67% of job offers that are not advertised on traditional networks: we call it the “hidden job market”. It is through these channels that Linkedin can offer you essential networking opportunities for your future”.
An overseas internship is a real plus for employers. Based on this fact, ESILV provides students with several tools to help them in their search for companies: specialised platforms that offer exclusive internship and top-level job offers and lectures with major national and international corporations.
