The President and CEO of Chalmers University of Technology of Sweden, Ms. Karin Markides, will join us here in Washington, D.C. for a dinner event on Tuesday January 3, 2012. She will have a presentation of the latest activities and research at Chalmers and speak on ”Chalmers’ added value to business and society through students, new knowledge and collaboration”.

Ms. Markides will during her presentation compare activities at Chalmers with activities in the US and will at the end have a question and answer session. The event is part of a fund raising activity by US Friends of Chalmers, a non-profit organization supporting US students with scholarships for studies at Chalmers.

Chalmers is a top ranked university located in Gothenburg that focuses on research and education in technology, natural science and architecture. Through internationally acclaimed education and researchcombined with a professional innovation process, Chalmers’ mission is to become one of the world’s most attractive universities. US Friends of Chalmers is an organization that aims at promoting and advancing education and research at Chalmers University of Technology through financial support and contact building in the United States. The mission is to reach out to US alumni and other potential supporters of Chalmers to increase the awareness of Chalmers University of Technology competence and competitiveness.

PROGRAM:

04.00 pm Gathering for mingle and appetizers

05.00 pm Presentation by Ms. Karin Markides, resident and CEO of Chalmers University of Technology of Sweden: ”Chalmers’ added value to business and society through students, new knowledge and collaboration”

05.30 pm Discussions, questions and answers

05.50 pm Presentation of Chalmers student intern program for the US in cooperation with Swedish Chambers of Commerce, SACC

05.55 pm Presentation of US Friends of Chalmers

06.00 pm Dinner, sit-down, buffet style with steak and sea food, wine and beverages

07.30 pm Coffee, tea, dessert

08.00 pm Closing

DATE: Tuesday January 3, 2012

LOCATION: The private residence of Erland Magnusson, McLean, VA

DONATION PER DINNER PLATE: $100 (Tax deductible, less value of dinner)

PAYMENT: Please send payment by check to US Friends of Chalmers, c/o Erland Magnusson, 6907 Lupine Lane, McLean, VA22101. Please send payment no later than December 20, 2011

RSVP: Please send RSVP by December 20, 2011 to email Arne Dunhem adunhem@arielway.com or by phone 202-609-7756  

Several interns participate in the SACC-USA Trainee Program as part of their studies. Hosting an intern could be an opportunity for U.S. companies to get access to knowledge and know-how from Swedish students writing their Bachelor, Master or PhD theses. Juwel Rana, PhD student at Luleå University of Technology, recently came back from his internship at Ericsson Research in the U.S. where he got the chance to better understand the impact of his work from a global perspective.

Juwel is working as a PhD student since December 2008 at the department of Computer Science, Electrical and Space Engineering at Luleå University of Technology (LTU), Sweden. The aim of his study is to develop theories of how to improve group communication by harnessing information from social networks and communication services. The current focus of the study is to test and evaluate developed theories in a real world setting. “By interning at Ericsson Research as part of my PhD studies I got the opportunity to validate my academic research problem in respect to current industrial demands”, says Juwel.

Assistant Professor Kåre Synnes, Juwel’s PhD advisor explains that the Trainee Program has been beneficial in establishing contacts between LTU and Ericsson Research. “Without the help with the J1 visa process from the Swedish-American Chambers of Commerce it would have been impossible to attain the J1 visa in time. The resulting collaboration show great prospects, not only between LTU and Ericsson in San Jose but also subsequent collaboration between Ericsson in San Jose, Stockholm and Luleå”.

Hosting a PhD intern is not only an opportunity for exchange and future collaborations for the organizations, but also for the intern. “Having an internship during the PhD period opens up new possibilities to work for the industry after completing the PhD” says Juwel. Through his internship he got the chance to expand his network and learn more about important industries and universities interested in similar research issues. He found it encouraging realizing that the academic work he is doing is interesting to people in the industry.

As a result of the PhD study, Juwel Rana has filed one patent application, contributed to another patent application being in the process of filing, and published six peer-reviewed conferences and journal articles.

Juwel Rana’s publications >>>

Read more about the Social Data Ranking and Processing patent >>>

Position Summary

Are you sharp, outgoing, and great with organization? Do you have the ambition to one day become a CEO yourself? Don’t miss this spectacular opportunity to apply for the internship at Cypress Security who seeks an Executive Assistant to the CEO immediately. As an intern you will provide a high level of confidential and personal support to the Chief Executive Officer, create financial analyses, various kinds of market research, marketing material, and marketing plan and be involved in every aspect of a CEO’s day to day work.

Requirements

Cypress Security is looking for an intern holding the ambition to one day becoming the CEO of a company. This position requires a self motivated and self-starting individual. It is a requirement that the applicant has an academic background in business, finance and/or marketing, has turned 25 years and holds a Swedish citizenship.

For more information, please email: sheikkinen@cypress-security.com

Location: San Francisco, California

Start date: As soon as possible

Duration of training period:  Up to 18 months

Compensation: Depending on experience

You probably have a number of pending projects piling up because there never seems to be enough time in the day. Or perhaps you have had some brilliant ideas that remain just ideas for the same reason. The solution: host a Swedish trainee to do the project or develop the idea for you!

A trainee will put his theoretical knowledge to use for your company. Perhaps he does your project as part of a thesis before graduating. Or perhaps she has already graduated and needs some international experience before launching her career. Either way, you will get some very qualified assistance.

The trainee does, of course, need a visa and as a J-1 visa sponsor, The Swedish-American Chambers of Commerce will help with the visa application. A training period can be from a few weeks up to 18 months.  A trainee should be paid a stipend to cover living expenses.

What is required from a company hosting a J-1 exchange visitor?

• Employer Identification Number (EIN)
• Worker’s compensation insurance
• Provision of training and a supervisor
• Written training plan
• Membership in a SACC Regional Chamber
• Site visit by SACC USA if <25 employees or <$3M annual revenue

Sounds Good?

Please send an email to ck@sacc-usa.org with:

• A short paragraph describing the potential project
• Desired qualifications
• Estimated start and end date

The Swedish American Chambers of Commerce of the USA, Inc. is the umbrella organization for 18 regional Swedish-American Chambers of Commerce across the United States. We serve more than 2,300 members in Sweden and the U.S., which makes us the second largest European Chamber of Commerce in the United States. Our mission is to facilitate and support trade, commerce, and investment between the U.S. and Sweden.

Position Summary
The intern will assist with communications and marketing of the organization’s different events and member programs. This includes planning and designing promotional materials as well as updating and create content for the web site. This internship will give you valuable work experience and knowledge in trade, commerce and investment between the United States and Sweden. The internship will also offer insight into how a non-profit organization operates and possibilities for networking with both Swedish and American companies. The office is located in House of Sweden, Washington D.C., the international environment is a perfect opportunity for someone who want to build a personal network for a future professional career in international business and/or politics.

Requirements
The position requires a person who is innovative and creative, organized and able to take initiative. Applicants should have good web and graphic design skills, knowledge in Photoshop, InDesign, WordPress, web-programming, HTML and CSS. Good written and spoken English skills are a must.

Start date: 2012-03-19

Duration of training period: Approximately 6 months.

Location: Washington, DC

Compensation: This is an unpaid position and may be best suitable for a person seeking practical training as part of his or her education and is eligible for a Swedish student loan. It may also be possible to seek scholarships in Sweden.

Have you recently returned from your internship in the U.S. and want to meet others with similar experience as you? Have you sent in your general application, or are on your way to be an intern or trainee in the U.S.? SACC Young Professionals in Gothenburg and Stockholm can be your landing spot coming home or your introduction to the network before take-off.

The idea behind SACC YP is to provide a forum for networking and career development for young professionals and an opportunity to meet peers as well as network with business leaders involved in international business. The SACC YP groups in Sweden arrange happy hours, company visits and other activities for our trainee alumni, consisting of Americans in Sweden as well as Swedes who have been or will be living in the U.S.

SACC-YP Gothenburg was launched during the Entrepreneurial Days in Gothenburg last fall, and with a new board a kick-off is planned for January. SACC-YP Stockholm was launched in the spring 2011, and has so far arranged some happy hours, and a seminar about social media.

Find us on Facebook: SACC-YP Gothenburg and SACC-YP Stockholm where we post about our activities.

Want to be engaged in the steering groups? Contact SACC-YP Gothenburg or email SACC Sweden in Stockholm at ziba@sacc-usa.org.

In June 2012 about forty well-educated Chalmers students will arrive in the U.S. eager to spend up to 12 months interning at various companies in need of competent assistance. The Swedish-American Chambers of Commerce have partnered with Chalmers University of Technology since 2009 to offer our members access to qualified technology students who are looking to share their expertise while gaining international experiences.

Chalmers university of Technology is one of Sweden’s most prestigious schools for innovation, engineering and technology. For more than 45 years Chalmers has been sending successful interns to American companies such as Apple, NASA and Microsoft. Companies within the Swedish-American Chambers of Commerce network are introduced to qualified students who are looking to contribute their expertise during a 3-12 months internship period, starting in June 2012.

This program is a great example of the win-win-situations that often appear when exchanges occur between two countries. “The quality of the student’s education and behavior was great for us”, says Dennis Stoltenberg at Abound Solar Inc., a Colorado based company that has hosted a Chalmers intern. The internship proved extremely valuable to the company by bringing in new ideas and different ways of thinking. “We ended up with someone who saw things differently and could question us and some of our approaches, someone who knew how to do things and did them.”

Senad Santic, web development intern at Cypress Private Security in 2011 explains the program as a way to get hands-on experience with the technologies he, as a software engineering student, desired to learn more about. “My tasks ranged from recording and editing new training modules, to developing sophisticated dynamic websites that will be used by the company”. Through his internship he thus evolved the skills that he wanted, while being beneficial for the company. Read more about his experience>>>

To request Chalmers resumes or more information, please contact: sacctraineeprogram@sacc-usa.org.

Giovana Silva Lerda has signed a project contract with the Conservation International Brazil team to carry out some serious hands-on research. She landed this job due to the experience she gained during an internship at Horizon Dive Adventures, Inc. in Key Largo, Florida on a J-1 visa sponsored by the Swedish-American Chambers of Commerce-USA.

During her years as a communications major at Stockholm University, Giovana was granted a Minor Field Studies scholarship financed by SIDA. She spent two months in post-war Sierra Leone assessing an environmental awareness campaign around the Tiwai Island Wildlife Sanctuary. By doing this she helped the Environmental Foundation for Africa measure life improvement indicators in rural communities around Tiwai. Her research was focused on optimizing environmental education and campaigns in developing societies. This is where her commitment to sustainable development began.

Going to the U.S.to undertake a Master Scuba Diving internship was thus not the first change of scenery she had experienced, nor the last. At Horizon Divers in Key Largo, Florida, Giovana got the chance to train in different aspects of running a DiveCenter, from business and sales to public affairs and management. The internship enabled her to gain extraordinary knowledge and experience within marine ecosystems and environmental education. She also got to do important voluntary work in coral reef restoration and exotic species control, to mitigate the impact of the invasive Asian lionfish in Atlantic waters.

After her internship, Giovana went to live with her grandparents in Brazil, where she began her job search, aiming to work with coral reef conservation. Due to her previous experiences, she didn’t have to look far. This summer, Conservation International Brazil told Giovana that they had “never met a communications person with the specific experience with marine ecosystems, coastal communities and voluntary work with reef conservation initiatives,” and she was offered a job as a communications consultant in the field she loves. 

The project Giovana is working with includes some serious hands-on research on what the region around Abrolhos Marine National Park (northeastern Brazil) needs in terms of advocacy, information and communication. As part of the consultancy, she organized a workshop in collaboration with partner organizations, local fishermen and local politicians. Its objective was to create a dialogue and figure out a communications action plan to raise awareness of the Region of Abrolhos as an area of great importance, not only for the local communities, but also for the Brazilian society and government.

When Giovana describes her new job, it is evident that she was influenced by her time in Florida. “I wouldn’t have done this without SACC. Also a special thanks goes to Dan Dawson, Tom Witmer and the wonderful Horizon Divers crew. Hopefully, some day people in Brazil will be able to take tare of our reefs the way the people I met in Florida take care of theirs” she says. We at the SACC-USA Trainee Program wish Giovana the best of luck with her exciting project!

Velos, Inc. is a leading provider of next-generation health care software based in Fremont, CA. Velos provides an integrated suite of research, clinical, administrative, and financial products. Velos eResearch, the company’s flagship product line, is a comprehensive clinical research management information system. Velos’s specialty medical product line supports the information needs of health care providers in cardiology, cardiovascular surgery, dialysis, and transplantation.

Force 5 Program Summary

The Force 5 program is an entry-level program that develops management, marketing, engineering, and sales skills through progressively challenging assignments. The program provides candidates with valuable training, experience, and exposure to a team of motivated colleagues and helpful mentors that will set them up for future careers in the software and health care industries. The program prepares candidates for careers in software marketing, sales, software development, or management by providing the opportunity to learn about Velos’s products, industry, and customers, while making valuable contributions to the ongoing success of Velos. This is a unique opportunity to learn practical business skills as the program is committed to developing leaders.

Although our position description is open to all majors in any field, Velos has a particular bend toward software development and programming skill sets at the present time.

Position description

Force 5 program participants are integral members of the Velos team. The right candidates will be collaborative, results-oriented, self-motivated, willing to take initiative, seriously responsible, and will have excellent analytical and communication skills.  A strong desire to think, make a difference, and be a leader of consequence is critical.

The role of Force 5 program participants is a fusion of capabilities in four areas:

1.  an ability to bring intelligent and creative thinking to the table relevant to the commercial ambitions for a project,
2. an ability to get fascinated and immersed in new things, to hunt for answers in ambiguous environments and inspire those around you,
3. an ability to generate ideas, to think creatively and collaboratively with others about ideas, and to be able to effectively communicate those ideas to the team, and
4. an ability to get things done, using a combination of intuition, personal experience, publicly available information sources, original research, and hard work.

Areas of focus for Force 5 program participants include: customer engagements, software development, product support, consulting, requirements development, communication with engineering teams, sales, marketing strategy, marketing communications, competitive analysis, and product management.  Force 5 program participants will be working across multiple live projects at any moment in time.

Responsibilities

• Work closely with the managers of the Business Development, Product Management, Professional Services, Software Support, Software Development, Marketing, and Sales groups to learn, understand, and assist in their responsibilities and issues
• Work with Product Management to help engineer and deliver new ideas and modules for products
• Work with Support and Professional Services to understand and deliver ideas for product improvement
• Work with customer-focused consulting teams to help deliver, deploy, and communicate solutions
• Contribute to overall product-level messaging and positioning, especially in the context of new feature releases and the benefit to customers
• Work with Marketing and Sales to deliver appropriate communication and training vehicles to customers
• Develop and maintain competitive intelligence to inform both Product Management and Sales
• Develop material to help define and communicate the business proposition of Velos products

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree or Bachelor’s Degree candidate in any field of study
• Experience with diverse work cultures
• Ability to work in an ambiguous and dynamic environment and comfortable with non-hierarchical organizations
• Ability to work in multidisciplinary teams
• Ability to apply critical, logical, and creative thinking to analyzing and documenting product needs as well as solving customer problems
• Ability to think expansively, challenge paradigms, and champion ideas; excited by big transformational ideas, whether they are yours or someone else’s on the team
• Open minded; willing and eager to learn; natural inclination to explore and articulate
• Advanced skills in Microsoft Office, Adobe, and other business software packages
• Willingness to learn new skills in software for consulting, requirements management, customer management, and other business processes
• Strong willingness to get hands dirty; ability to stoke the fires of those in the team
• This is an entry level position; no experience necessary
• Strong communicators (i.e. excellent written, oral and presentation skills) and active listeners needed

Desired Characteristics

• Entrepreneurial mindset
• Detail and results oriented
• Cross-functional team player and networker; highly collaborative
• Contagious positive passion for excellence
• Self-awareness of personal strengths and limitations
• Ability to apply creative and improvisational thinking
• Genuine character and superior interpersonal skills

Location: Fremont, CA

Start date: As soon as possible

Duration of training: 6-12 months

Compensation: Stipend to cover living expenses

Anna has been undertaking her training since February at the VisitSweden office in New York City. Her tasks are both challenging and varied. “I get to arrange bookings for company guests, I have helped developing campaigns, organizing events and I have been involved in some press related tasks”. Anna also helps out with social media marketing and is one of the administrators for two of VisitSweden’s facebook sites. She is also writing in a blog for a destination in Sweden. “VisitSweden is the perfect host company for any trainee who has been studying tourism management and marketing. The position gives a great insight into both fields”.  

The Swedish-American Chambers of Commerce is a designated sponsor in the U.S. Department of State’s J-1 visa exchange visitor program. The Department of State is currently presenting Anna as one of the trainees participating in the program: http://j1visa.state.gov/participants/experiences/anna-karlsson.