Internships or work placements can be a good start for many students to get a foot in the door when entering the labour market.
Here they gain practical experience and improve skills from their studies. This is what Håkon Liengen Kittilsen focused on as a bachelor’s student in computer engineering at the University of Agder (UiA).
"An internship allows you to learn more about working life, but also about a new culture. Personally, I feel like I’m learning a lot of new and exciting things about my field of study from skilled and friendly people in the industry," he said.
Interested in an internship? Engineering and science opportunities available
Large projects
In his second year at UiA, Håkon Liengen Kittilsen was offered an exciting opportunity: an internship at the technology company KNOWEB PVT LTD in Sri Lanka. A company that offers digital solutions to businesses.
"My plan was actually to start my career in a Norwegian company, but I'm glad that chance brought me here instead," he says.
A chance conversation with a programme coordinator opened new doors. He helped Kittilsen with the formalities, and shortly afterwards, the technology company warmly welcomed him.
In Sri Lanka, Kittilsen is working on projects closely related to his studies in computer engineering.
"In the beginning, I worked on smaller projects where I helped design websites.
Now he is part of a larger project for a customer, where the team is developing a website that monitors sensors in water tanks.
In the project, he receives close supervision from the project manager, who provides clear guidelines and helps Kittilsen when he encounters challenges.
Spontaneous trip to the Maldives
According to Kittilsen, people in Sri Lanka are used to long working days. Often ten hours on weekdays, and half a day on Saturdays. However, he manages to balance work with both studies and free time.
"I thought it would be challenging to combine work and experiencing a foreign culture in a different climate. I was also worried about not being able to relax with only one day off a week. But everything has gone really well. Especially since I work with experienced and friendly people who make sure that I am seen, and who adjust the work weeks according to how much coursework I have," he said.
When he is not at work or studying, Kittilsen likes to explore the city of Galle, where he lives. Or he takes trips to neighbouring cities like Kandy and Mirissa. There he has tried everything from diving to hiking. When he needs some peace and quiet, he takes a quick trip to the local beach.
His sense of adventure has also led to new friendships along the way.
"Travelling alone means you have to seek out new people, and I’ve made friends with people I might otherwise never have met. For example, I went to the Maldives for a weekend with an Italian born in Sri Lanka, whom I met by chance while on my way to training," Kittilsen says.
Career opportunities abroad
"The internship has given me great confidence to travel more, and Asia is definitely on the list again. When I take my master’s in industrial economics and technology management at UiA, I will also apply for exchange – preferably to Australia," he continues.
After completing his master’s, his plan is to secure a permanent job to build a career abroad.
If you are a student considering an internship in another country or starting your career with a work placement in a company, Håkon Liengen Kittilsen has some good advice:
"First and foremost: Just do it! Even if you’re not sure, I would recommend applying – it is a unique experience that I’m pretty sure no one will regret. It may seem daunting to travel far from home and work with entirely new people, but it's worth it," he says.
Read more about internship opportunities at UiA
Do you have questions about internships or studies in computer engineering? Contact:
- arne.wiklund@uia.no
- Phone
- +47 37 23 34 24
- helga.lid@uia.no
- Phone
- +47 37 23 31 15