Two-thirds of the new BEng graduates secure a job less than two months after their final exam, primarily in the private sector.
The majority of the new BEng graduates find jobs almost immediately after graduation. This is the result of a survey conducted among graduates that in the period 2008-2012 completed a BEng programme at DTU or at the former Copenhagen University College of Engineering (IHK), which merged with DTU at the turn of the year 2012/2013.
The survey shows that 62 per cent of the graduates had been offered a job less than two months after completing their programme. An impressive 41 per cent had already secured a job before graduating. The survey also shows that in addition to quickly landing a job, the majority—87 per cent—were employed in the private sector.
Relevant and high-quality programme
"The survey bears witness to a BEng programme which is both relevant and of high quality. In other words: DTU produces engineers with relevant competencies, and they are attractive to the labour market," says Martin E. Vigild, Dean of Undergraduate Studies and Student Affairs, adding that it is worth noting that the graduates in this survey entered a labour market affected by the economic crisis, but still succeeded in finding work.
"DTU produces engineers with relevant competencies, and they are attractive to the labour market."
Martin E. Vigild, Dean of Undergraduate Studies and Student Affairs
And the new BEng graduates also believe that their programme is of relevance: When asked how they assess the competencies they have acquired in their BEng programme, 91 per cent answer that the programme largely or to some extent has prepared them for their first job.
Internship a good thing
The BEng programme differs from, among other things, the MSc Eng programme in that it only lasts three and a half years and includes a six-month internship in a company.
The internship is highlighted by the graduates as valuable. 68 per cent believe that they either to a great or to a very great extent acquired relevant experience for their subsequent career in their internships. 86 per cent of the graduates also believe that the internship either largely or to some extent contributed to their academic development.
"The BEng programme is a shorter and more practical and industrially oriented programme. The internship will contribute, in particular, to bridging theory and practice. The bridging is reinforced by the fact that DTU uses the internationally recognized and practical concept for the development and planning of engineering CDIO (for more information, see fact box, ed.), with particular focus on strengthening the students' practical skills to solve specific problems," explains Lars D. Christoffersen, Vice Dean of the BEng programme.
- CDIO stands for Conceive—Design—Implement—Operate, a concept for the development and planning of engineering programmes, which is integrated in all of DTU's BEng programmes.
- The concept underpins a practical and solution-oriented approach to issues in the field of engineering.
- The four phases of CDIO are based on the real life of the professional engineer and characterizes the life cycle that engineering solutions undergo.
- The CDIO concept was developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the USA some fifteen years ago in collaboration with leading Swedish engineering programmes.