Employers Case Studies
Kodak
Kodak and IAESTE - a new beginning in Cambridge
When Kodak set up its new European Research Laboratories in Cambridge at the beginning of 2006, it was faced with a significant issue - an urgent need to recruit high calibre technical staff to support the portfolio of research projects which were being established. Previously Kodak operated R & D facilities located on Manufacturing sites at Harrow in the UK and Chalon-sur-Saone in France, where students were sourced locally from British and French universities to work on a temporary basis. In Cambridge, it was decided to try a new approach.
Dr Chris Moore, Technology Development Manager, came across the IAESTE scheme while browsing on the British Council website, prior to moving to Cambridge, to set-up the Research facility. “After a brief discussion with Bruce Mehlmann-Wicks, it became clear that IAESTE would be a good fit for Kodak’s needs. It allowed us to access some excellent students from a very broad range of universities across the European region” In December 2005, a list of experience profiles was submitted to the British Council, and some weeks later, details of nominated students were received in Cambridge.
The CVs were considered by the Cambridge team, and the potential supervisors interviewed the candidates by phone. The standard of application was extremely high and corresponded well to the technical profiles that were being sought. In April/May 2006, offers were made to the selected individuals and the first students arrived in June. The group was divided between some short term (3 month) placements and more long term (10 -12 month) placements. The group covered a very broad range of European countries: Portugal, Norway, Serbia, Austria, Germany, Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary and Switzerland. With such a diversity of nationalities within the team, it has helped the Cambridge group to appreciate the cultural richness of the European Community and to provide a good foundation for interaction with a much broader range of European universities, companies and institutes.
With a group of nine highly motivated, technically skilled students, from a broad range of subject areas (including Physics, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science), the impact on productivity was significant. Chris Rider who coordinates work in the Display area at Cambridge said that the IAESTE students had made a tremendous difference to the work that has been done in Cambridge, with some projects moving much faster as a consequence. Other benefits include the free ranging very international conversations over lunch breaks, including “How to learn Norwegian”!
But what about the experience from the student’s perspective? Karolina Sosnowska from Warsaw University of Technology, who worked with Dr Nick Dartnell, described her placement as “one of the best experiences of her professional career so far”. Other students describe the working environment as being “welcoming” and “like a family”.
The IAESTE students are involved in all activities of the Laboratories including social events and community days. Last summer, many of the students learnt how to row on the River Cam, and in the autumn the whole Laboratory spent a day doing volunteer work at Flag Fen, a local bronze age educational centre.
Most of the initial students have returned to their own countries over the summer, but they have been replaced by this year’s group which has arrived over the last couple of months. Since Kodak’s European Region also encompasses the Middle East and Africa, Chris has been keen to continue to broaden the range of nominating countries. Included in this year’s group are students from Macedonia, Spain, Ukraine and Oman. “It has been a great experience on all sides. We are committed to the IAESTE scheme, and would encourage other companies to try it for themselves”, concluded Chris Moore.
