Connect Forward: Helping students from Ukraine, Russia and Belarus to find part-time jobs
Students from Ukraine, Russia and Belarus with financial problems caused by the war in Ukraine are getting help in Twente to find a part-time job. The Connect Forward project creates a match between students and local companies.
Students from Ukraine, Russia and Belarus with financial problems caused by the war in Ukraine are getting help in Twente to find a part-time job. The Connect Forward project creates a match between students and local companies.
Serhii Starodubtsev (19) is a second-year student of International Business at Saxion and he has been working at Pontus HeatTreatment since the beginning of May. “I have various duties,” he says. “My job is to improve the warehouse inventory of parts.”
Before the war broke out in Ukraine Serhii could always count on his family for financial support. That is much more difficult, now. His mother and sister are now living in Germany and his father had to stay in Ukraine. He is happy with this opportunity for earning money to help pay for his studies. “This job also fits in perfectly with my study programme,” he says.
Taking this job meant that he had to arrange all sorts of matters, for instance he had to apply for a DigiD and end his student health insurance policy in favour of a much more expensive standard policy. This was quite a complicated process so Saxion stepped in to help Serhii and Pontus. “All in all, I’m very happy with my job.”
Geert Wubben of Pontus HeatTreatment is happy that his company was able to offer a job to such an enthusiastic student. “We often have ROC students, but this route means that we can also have Saxion students,” he says. “He was able to get to work after just a morning’s training. We are very satisfied with him.”
Source: Twente Board Progress report
Connect Forward: opportunities for finding a part-time job in the Twente region
A spin-off of ‘Connect Forward’ has been specially set up to help Ukrainian, Russian and White-Russian students at Saxion and the University of Twente (UT) . This initiative is intended to help students to find a part-time job with companies in the Twente area for a maximum of 16 hours per week. Are you also interested in finding a part-time job? You can still sign up for Connect Forward via this form.
Update
It has recently been decided that Ukrainian students will not need to apply for a work permit before the end of August.
More information and support
Saxion expresses its sympathy with everyone who has been affected by the current situation in Ukraine. We can imagine that the situation is having a huge impact on our students and staff members. We understand that you may have questions or concerns about your study programme or your private life. At saxion.edu/ukraine we provide information and counselling for everyone who has been affected by or involved in the situation in Ukraine.
- Read more in this interview with Kim Venema, International Office (OSS).