Business courses during studies are win-win

By Asta Holst Bach, 9/16/2021

By Asta Holst Bach

In the fifth semester of her bachelor’s degree in Business Economics, Nicolina Karlskov Sørensen has chosen to exchange attending class at the University for a company residency at TotalEnergies.

It is an opportunity for students to combine theories from the study programme with practice and try their hand in the private sector. For Nicolina Karlskov Sørensen, the project-oriented course with the company gives new meaning to her studies.

A broader perspective

Nicolina Karlskov Sørensen is 40 years old and originally trained as a primary school teacher. After teaching for 15 years, a few years ago she decided to try something completely new.

- I needed to change direction, lacked theoretical input and I wanted a broader perspective, she says.

Her choice fell on the bachelor’s programme in Business Economics at SDU in Esbjerg, which is part of SDU Business School. Nicolina Karlskov Sørensen has just started her fifth semester and alongside her studies is working as a student assistant in the energy company TotalEnergies, where she is also in the process of completing her project-oriented course.

- TotalEnergies is an ambitious company. You can feel it in their view of their employees: they really want to help you learn new things and develop, says Nicolina Karlskov Sørensen.

The theory makes sense

During her project-oriented course, Nicolina Karlskov Sørensen is working on optimising the company’s business processes when preparing public reports.

- My job is to create an overview of public reports in our department, as well as to optimise and analyse the reported data. In addition, I am continuously involved in the monthly tasks relating to business reporting, she says.

In her work with coordinating the public reports, Nicolina Karlskov Sørensen draws on her knowledge of business optimisation, which she has studied at the University.

- I think it’s really exciting that I can use the theory in my work. The theoretical learning from the University makes more sense when the theory is combined with practical experience.

Innovating the company

At TotalEnergies, students like Nicolina Karlskov Sørensen have an important role in the company.

- The collaboration with Nicolina means that important tasks that we haven’t previously had time to immerse ourselves in and improve on can receive greater focus, says Susan Sejrup Villadsen.

She is Financial Controller in the company and is also a mentor to Nicolina Karlskov Sørensen.

- The University students are very interested in learning, gaining experience and have great commitment. This means that new ideas and thoughts come to our team from a more theoretical angle.

According to Susan Sejrup Villadsen, the collaboration between company and students is rewarding for both parties.

- Nicolina and the other students contribute with the latest knowledge, and as a company it gives us an opportunity to be innovative. The students get something out of putting the theories into practice, and we get the opportunity to develop and keep up with the theoretical development.

Experience for the future

Nicolina Karlskov Sørensen’s work experience with the company is helping her to narrow down which direction she would like to take after her studies.

- The Business and Economics Administration programme is broad, so I have to find out what I think is really exciting. At TotalEnergies, I get a good insight into how they work and what I can use my education in business economics for, she concludes.