Praise for work exchange programme
A young German student has thanked all involved in a special exchange program that has enabled him to work and study in Cork.
Tim Heinecke (20) is one of a cohort of students who took park in the Hamburg to Cork Social Mobility Project, a programme that gives young people undertaking vocational training in Germany an opportunity to travel to Cork to learn English in UCC while also experiencing work placement opportunities.
“I am doing an apprenticeship as a Clerk for Office Management back in Hamburg,” said Tim, who worked in UCC’s Graduate Attribute Programme office.
“I got to experience so many different things like the people and architecture here, as it's a completely different environment for me. I want to thank Adel Coleman, Maggie O'Sullivan and Clodagh O'Sullivan for being such a wonderful, comforting and helpful team that taught me different things such as how to use editing software like Canva and CapCut, while also learning about my own attributes and values,” he said.
Now in its 14th year, the Hamburg to Cork Social Mobility Project is financed by the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, through the Authority for Schools and Vocational Training and is overseen by Wendy Swaby who is full of praise for the support the initiative has received in Cork.
“There’s a wonderful openness in the Irish, they go above and beyond for our students,” Ms Swaby said.
She added: “This project is one of a kind; it offers these students, who are not from a traditionally academic background, an opportunity to come to an academic environment like UCC to learn English while honing their trade and skills.
“In other cities in the past, it can be a struggle to secure work experience for our students, but in Cork we have found it very easy to get placements from supportive businesses.
“I want to thank Adele Colman, Vivienne Lordan, and Zoe Williams in UCC for their support, and to all the employers who offer opportunities to our students.”
The employers at UCC were thanked for their encouragement with a special dinner at the university this month, prepared by the students who took part in the programme.
Ms Swaby continued: “The initiative is mutually beneficial, with at least one employer offering their student a job after just three days on their placement. One student said, ‘I’ve come out of myself’ after her placement. She said, ‘I now realise I can do things independently’.”