Why Denmark and how are you experiencing your time at Aarhus University?
'I have always been a fan of the Scandinavian culture. I thought starting as a student was a great way to get to know the culture and later start a career.'

'The computer science department at Aarhus University is world-known in the field of cryptography and programming languages. It feels great to sit in a lecture and learn directly from the leading researchers in the field.' Dadan continues, 'I also love how, in many courses, we learn through hands-on group projects.'

What has been the most challenging experience, and what has surprised you?
'The weather, definitely. I expected Denmark to be cold, but I did not anticipate how hard the wind could blow. It turns a moderately chilly day much colder, sometimes making it hard to maintain the balance on my bike,' he says, laughing. 'The grey sky and lack of sunlight around winter also feel quite depressing at times.'

'I was surprised by how much trust we are given. We are trusted to purchase a ticket before we step onto the city buses, and we will only meet a ticket inspector if we are "lucky". On the other hand, we are welcome to enter many nature reserve areas and are trusted to take care of ourselves from all the risks because no guard is there to watch for our safety.'

How did you prepare for your career doing your studies?
'I try to get as much help as I can. I am taking part in the career kickstart programme offered by the university for international students. I hope to gain insights on approaching Danish recruiters. I am also a member of IDA, a labor union for people in the science and engineering fields. They provide resources that help with job seeking, such as access to job boards and consultation services.'

Do you have a favourite spot in Aarhus?
'I used to love to just lay down and relax on one of the hammocks in front of Domen after a Friday class. Unfortunately,' he says, 'it's just too cold to do it these past few months.'

Do you have a student job, and how did you get one?
'Yes, I work as a student assistant in the Information Systems department at Grundfos, a global company which is the largest water pump manufacturer in the world. Back in late 2023, PPI (the Indonesian Student Association) and IPA (the Indonesian Professional Association) organized a career mentoring program where I was a mentee. I was fortunate to be matched with a mentor who works at Grundfos and happened to be looking for student assistants in his department. I was lucky to get such an opportunity, so I worked hard to prove I was a worthy candidate.'

How will your student job help you prepare for a career in Denmark?
'I think a student job is a very nice way to get to know the Danish work culture as well as build connections in the company I'm working for.' Dadan adds, 'I also believe that a student job experience is highly appreciated by recruiters.'

'Before I came to study in Denmark, I had around 3.5 years of experience working at Indonesian startup companies. I'm still shocked by how relaxed the work can be (tends to be slow even), compared to how I had it in my past experiences in Indonesia (I believe the "relaxed" part is the actual Danish working culture and the "tends to be slow" part is because of the jump from startup to corporate).'

Are you learning Danish?
'I took a free Danish lesson from the municipality last semester. Right now, I'm taking a break to focus on my thesis project. I still practice by reading the news regularly and building the courage to speak in Danish to cashiers at least.'

What do you hope your future will bring?
'I really hope I can get a job and stay in Denmark (Aarhus specifically) after I graduate. However, I'm also keeping my eyes open to opportunities around the region.'