International youth ambassadors encourage future prospects of Denmark

Prince and minister full of praise for international ambassadors at entrepreneurship and innovation conference

An annual conference with the theme 'Innovation and Entrepreneurship' had a touch of royalty about it as Prince Joachim answered questions from enthusiastic attendees. On Saturday 20 April, some 80 young international students were able to put their questions to the prince before students from DTU presented short speeches about their innovative start-up companies. 

The Youth Goodwill Ambassador Corps is a volunteer programme based in Denmark that works to nurture and retain international talent. Founded in 2010, there are now over 200 youth goodwill ambassadors who either currently study or have studied in Denmark, and their role is to attract fresh talent to the Danish job market.

Having studied abroad himself, Prince Joachim told the ambassadors: “As youth goodwill ambassadors, you will reflect on your experience in Denmark, and whether at home in your own country or embarking on a new international career elsewhere in the world, you will always remember your time in Denmark and take a piece of Denmark with you.”

The conference took place at Scion DTU, which is part of a wider project to create a world-renowned university town in Lyngby. Lyngby-Taarbæk Council recently announced plans to create a ‘knowledge city’, and this was boosted earlier in April by the news of the planned relocation of Microsoft Denmark into the complex.

The conference allowed the prince to share his experiences as an entrepreneur and to speak of the pride he takes representing Denmark. “To me the duty of representing Denmark truly is a privilege,” he said. “It is very rewarding, and I love to see that the work I do can be fruitful to Danish society as a whole.”

Also speaking at the conference was the minister of climate, energy and building, Martin Lidegaard. On the topic of Denmark’s green reputation and the influence that ambassadors can have in sharing this knowledge, Lidegaard said: “Denmark is a showcase proving that going green and creating growth can be achieved simultaneously. Our youth ambassadors can help spread this message globally. At the same time, we must attract the best and most innovative minds to help us develop the energy systems of tomorrow, and the youth ambassadors can play an important role in this endeavour.”

Ani Movsisyan, who is studying for her master’s in Engineering Management at DTU, described the conference as a “once in a lifetime experience”.  She explained that it is not every day you get to see royalty in the flesh. Whilst Movsisyan did not personally ask Lidegaard a question, she was impressed by his openness during the Q&A session, and so much so by the aims of the scheme, that she decided to become a goodwill ambassador herself. “When I first heard about the programme, I was amazed,” she said. “We don’t have anything like this where I come from in Armenia.”

TOP STORIES

  • Bestselling author of ‘The Year of Living Danishly’ Helen Russell on why she moved back to the UK after 12 years

    Bestselling author of ‘The Year of Living Danishly’ Helen Russell on why she moved back to the UK after 12 years

    After more than a decade living in Denmark, Russell shares why she made the move, how she’s coping, what she already misses, and the exciting new projects she’s working on. “It’s been a very tough decision. I love Denmark, and it will always hold a special place in my heart,” she says.

  • Denmark launches first AI supercomputer

    Denmark launches first AI supercomputer

    The new Gefion AI supercomputer is one of the world’s fastest and will accelerate research and provide new opportunities in Danish academia and industry.

  • Navigating big love, big moves and big feelings

    Navigating big love, big moves and big feelings

    Experts believe it takes seven years to move into a new culture, according to leading Danish psychologist Jette Simon and therapist Vibeke Hartkorn. For expat couples, the challenges of starting a new life together in Denmark can put pressure on relationships, but emotions-focused therapy can help.

  • More and more Danes are working after retirement age

    More and more Danes are working after retirement age

    Politicians debate a lot these days about when you can retire. The reality shows that an increasing number of Danes like to work, even if they can withdraw from the labor market. Financial incentives help.

  • Environmental activist fears death in prison if extradited to Japan

    Environmental activist fears death in prison if extradited to Japan

    Canadian-born environmental activist Paul Watson has been in prison in Greenland for almost 100 days awaiting an extradition decision for a 14-year-old offence against a Japanese whaling vessel that he calls a “minor misdemeanor”. The 73-year-old had previously passed through Ireland, Switzerland, Monaco, France and the USA without trouble, before Greenlandic police arrested him in July.

  • Denmark too slow to ease recruitment rules for non-EU service workers, say industry associations

    Denmark too slow to ease recruitment rules for non-EU service workers, say industry associations

    When the Danish government in January presented the first of its schemes to make it easier to recruit foreign labour from outside the EU, it was hailed by the healthcare and service sectors as a timely and important policy shift. But while healthcare changes have been forthcoming, the service sector is still struggling, say the directors of the industry association Dansk Industri and one of the country’s largest private employers ISS.

Connect club

Connect Club is your gateway to a vibrant programme of events and an international community in Denmark.

Sign up here

Career

  • Come and join us at Citizens Days!

    Come and join us at Citizens Days!

    On Friday 27 and Saturday 28 of September, The Copenhagen Post will be at International Citizen Days in Øksnehallen on Vesterbro, Copenhagen. Admission is free and thousands of internationals are expected to attend

  • Diversifying the Nordics: How a Nigerian economist became a beacon for inclusivity in Scandinavia

    Diversifying the Nordics: How a Nigerian economist became a beacon for inclusivity in Scandinavia

    Chisom Udeze, the founder of Diversify – a global organization that works at the intersection of inclusion, democracy, freedom, climate sustainability, justice, and belonging – shares how struggling to find a community in Norway motivated her to build a Nordic-wide professional network. We also hear from Dr. Poornima Luthra, Associate Professor at CBS, about how to address bias in the workplace.

  • Lolland Municipality launches support package for accompanying spouses

    Lolland Municipality launches support package for accompanying spouses

    Lolland Municipality, home to Denmark’s largest infrastructure project – the Fehmarnbelt tunnel connection to Germany – has launched a new jobseeker support package for the accompanying partners of international employees in the area. The job-to-partner package offers free tailored sessions on finding a job and starting a personal business.

Want to advertise your job with CPH Post?

Contact us

Jobs