The 3rd IQS Internship Forum has brought together almost forty leading companies from different sectors of activity with the aim of offering students in the final year of their undergraduate studies and master’s degree students direct, firsthand information about required internships.
The 3rd IQS Internship Forum has brought together almost forty leading companies from different sectors of activity with the aim of offering students in the final year of their undergraduate studies and master's degree students direct, firsthand information about required internships. "For companies, the forum represents an excellent employer branding action that enables us to explain to students who we are and what kind of projects they can conduct during their internships," says Montse Cabrera, Engie Selection Specialist. She went on to say that IQS students are valued because they have a focus on customers, a service orientation, and the ability to adapt.
In concrete, adaptability and flexibility are two skills demanded by the vast majority of companies, regardless of the sector of activity to which they belong. Marta Cano, from the Selection and Development department of Catalonia Hotels, added that "the main power skills we are looking for are commitment, flexibility, and the desire to learn and work. In other words, motivation." In this sense, she highlighted that IQS students have "a remarkably solid foundation with the desire and motivation to get started in the workforce."
For 3rd year chemistry student Ana Paz, the forum "gives us the opportunity to get to know the companies and discover what they are looking for from students. I'm interested in flexible internships as I need them to be compatible with classes and academic life."
The wide variety of companies at this year's edition clearly stood out. The 39 companies that attended, five more than last year, belong to the following sectors: Consulting/Services/Finance (Deloitte, EY, PWC, KPMG, Gran Thorton, Jori Armengol, Banco Mediolanum, and NTT DATA); Consumer Goods (Miguel Torres, Louis Vuitton, Danone, Grupo AC Marca, and Winche); Hospitality (Hotel Almanac, WeCamp, Serras Collection, Telefèric, Hotel Casa Bonay, and Catalonia Hotels); Pharma/Cosmetics (EurofraganceEurofins, Grifols, AGC Pharma, Dallant, Lluch Essence, and Firmenich); Engineering/Chemistry/Industrial Sector (Akzo Nobel, Gas 2N, Panreac Química, TD Synnex, Altadia, Quality Chemicals, Croda Ibérica, Engie, Technip Energies, J.Juan, and Alier). In addition, Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona was also present.
Moreover, 18 of the companies listed above are also members of the IQS Business Foundation and were able to attend the forum for free: PWC, Jori Armengol, Miguel Torres, Grupo AC Marca, Catalonia Hotels, Eurofragance, Grifols, AGC Pharma, Dallant, Lluch Essence, Firmenich, Gas 2N, Panreac Químia, Altadia, Quality Chemicals, Croda Ibérica, Technip Energies and J.Juan.
The Internship Forum, along with the Employment Forum which will be held in March 2024, forms part of the actions carried out by IQS Career Services to promote employability and networking between companies and students.
