Back then it was just a few students from one specific area of study, but today it has grown to involve over forty students from over seven different fields of study.
"The quality of the student's education and behavior was great for us" says Dennis Stoltenberg at Abound Solar, a Colorado based company that participated in the program last year. He says that this opportunity proved extremely valuable to his company and that the different background brought in new ideas and different ways of thinking:
Dennis Stoltenberg is already in the process of securing a Chalmers student for this year.
From the student's perspective, this is of course a great opportunity. Not only do they get a chance to contribute with their academic expertise and knowledge, they also get the crucial real world experience that is needed in order to succeed when you exit the academic world.
Anders Lundström, the trainee at Abound Solar, says that it was easy to adapt to the new climate and that he was delighted to "arrive in an exciting environment of cutting-edge technology and committed people."
Despite last year's economic downturn and tightened budgets, Chalmers managed to secure the planned number of host companies. "By April 2009, I had the feeling that there was almost no Swedish company with an interest in engineering that had not received a call, email, or visit from us.", says Robin Magnusson, last year's Chairman of Chalmers USA Summer Trainee Program. Thirty-six students took part in the program last year. This year's goal is forty-four.
Since 2009, the Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce, Inc. (SACC-USA) is a part of the Chalmers program. By using its network to help Chalmers find host companies.
SACC-USA hopes to play an important role now and in the future. "It is a privilege to work with Chalmers on locating host companies", says Cecilia Kullman, Director of the SACC-USA Trainee Program.
"We know that students from Chalmers represent the best of what Sweden has to offer when it comes to technology and innovation."
The Chalmers USA Summer Trainee Program is a great example of the win-win-situations that often appear when exchange occur, between two countries.
Cecilia Helland