Non-profit • Eindhoven, The Netherlands
Collegium Novum:
Where Opportunities
Meet Talent
We connect Dutch businesses with international students through real-world projects—bridging classroom and workplace.
Talent is here — but opportunity doesn’t reach it fast enough.
International students often struggle to connect early with the Dutch labor market. Without the right networks, local experience, and guidance, many leave — even when companies need talent.
Early connection gap
Students don’t get enough real-market exposure early in their studies.
Experience barrier
“Local experience” requirements make entry-level roles hard to access.
SME friction
Smaller firms face admin uncertainty, even when they’re open to internationals.
Creating a support ecosystem for international students.
We bring students and businesses together through structured projects—so both sides can move faster, with less risk.
Students join with ambition
International students want meaningful, local experience — early.
Businesses have real problems to solve
Projects pile up when teams are small and hiring is hard.
We translate needs into projects
We scope tasks into realistic, high-value project briefs.
We match, guide, and de-risk
Clear expectations, support, and lightweight admin make it work.
Everyone benefits — outcomes compound
Students build experience. Businesses get momentum. The local market gains talent.
Make the bridge real.
Whether you’re a student looking for real-world experience or a business with a project that’s been on hold — we’ll do the matching and support.
You just take the first step.
Are you a student?
Looking for meaningful projects with Dutch companies? Tell us about your skills and interests.
- Work on real projects with clear scope
- Build local experience & confidence
- Get guidance and structure from our team
We promise it’s quick. If you’re unsure, submit anyway — we’ll help you position your profile.
Is your business looking for young talent?
Have a project that’s been waiting too long? We’ll help scope it and match the right student.
- Low-friction collaboration and support
- Project scoping & expectations included
- A simple way to access international talent
We’ll follow up to refine scope and timeline. No long intake — just the essentials.
Partner with us!
Volunteer mentorship, introductions, guest talks, sponsorship, or data support.
Prefer email? You can reach us at info@collegiumnovum.eu.
What research tells us
We separate signals from the student side and the business side—then compare them on the same scale.
Economic Importance
Studies show that international students contribute significantly to the Dutch economy[1]. According to the Nuffic study conducted in 2024, 8 out of 10 employers see more advantages than disadvantages in hiring internationals.
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Integration Difficulties
Studies have shown that many students leave the country due to a lack of early connection to the local market. 51% percent of students who left did so because they couldn't find suitable work[1].
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SME'sSmall to medium enterprise bottleneck
At the same time, 30% of SME'sSmall to medium enterprise in the country find it hard to hire internationals due to administrative burden, even if they are not opposed to the idea per se[3].
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Bridging the gap
We are here to bridge that gap, and provide SME'sSmall to medium enterprise with easier access to talented international students, while helping the students bridge the gap between workspace and classroom.
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Comparable indicators
Students vs Businesses — on one scale
Focused
01
Student-side
Work-fit is decisive
51%
[1]
Among students who left, many reported they couldn’t find suitable work—suggesting early market connection matters.
Business-side
Sentiment is largely positive
80%
[1]
Employer perception is not the main barrier—many employers report more advantages than disadvantages.
Business-side
Process friction blocks action
30%
[3]
A notable share of SMEs cite administrative burden, implying the gap is operational rather than motivational.
Economic context
CPB highlights the economic effects of international students—supporting the case that improving labor market integration has system-level benefits. [2]
Sources
- [1] Nuffic (2024), 'Stayrate of international graduates in the Netherlands'.
- [2] CPB Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis, 'Economic effects of international students'.
- [3] Dutch Chamber of Commerce (KVK) SME Survey, 2023.