World's happiest nation appoints University of Nottingham student as ambassador

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06 Dec 2013 14:11:04.093

A University of Nottingham student has been appointed as Youth Goodwill Ambassador of Denmark.

Joanna Hill is a 20 year old Law student currently studying at the University of Copenhagen as part of her degree programme.

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Ambassadorial roles may usually be reserved for high ranking diplomats rather than young people still studying at university but Joanna’s role has a very specific brief. 

According to Denmark’s Economic Council of the Labour Movement (ECLM), Danish companies will be short of up to 21,000 graduate level employees by 2020. Attracting and retaining foreign talent has been identified as crucial to preserving Denmark’s status as a globally recognised country of innovation.

The Youth Goodwill Ambassador Corps now engages close to 350 current and former international students with the aim of promoting Denmark as an attractive destination for student exchange and career opportunities for talented foreign graduates.

Although a relatively small country, Denmark is often recognised as the happiest nation in the world with the high levels of education, a unique welfare system and a high GDP. Well-known companies include shipping giant Maersk and toy manufacturer LEGO.

After just a short time in Denmark, Joanna says she has settled quickly and could see herself living and working there in the future. ‘I have really enjoyed my first three months in Copenhagen.’ she said, ‘There is a very relaxed way of life, everyone cycles everywhere and there is a big emphasis on communal living. The Danes love the idea of everything being 'hygge' (cosy), meaning that their homes are very welcoming and it was easy to feel at home as soon as I arrived. ‘

Danish Minister for Education, Morten Østergaard said ‘With the Youth Goodwill Ambassador Corps we are engaging international talents all over the world. In today’s global economy, talent mobility is a huge driver for intercultural exchange, innovation and exports. By working closely with our youth Ambassadors, we are connecting Denmark with the home countries of our youth Ambassadors on a people to people level, which already is showing great results”

Joanna will act as an ambassador for the duration of her studies in Copenhagen and for a further year once she returns to the UK.

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Notes to editors: The University of Nottingham has 42,000 students and is ‘the nearest Britain has to a truly global university, with campuses in China and Malaysia modelled on a headquarters that is among the most attractive in Britain’ (Times Good University Guide 2014). It is also one of the most popular universities among graduate employers, one of the world’s greenest universities, and winner of the Times Higher Education Award for ‘Outstanding Contribution to Sustainable Development’. It is ranked in the World's Top 75 universities by the QS World University Rankings.

More than 90 per cent of research at The University of Nottingham is of international quality, according to the most recent Research Assessment Exercise. The University aims to be recognised around the world for its signature contributions, especially in global food security, energy & sustainability, and health. The University won a Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education for its research into global food security.

Impact: The Nottingham Campaign, its biggest ever fundraising campaign, will deliver the University’s vision to change lives, tackle global issues and shape the future. More news…

Story credits

More information is available from Michael Munro, Student Communications Officer at The University of Nottingham, on +44 (0)115 82 32353, michael.munro@nottingham.ac.uk

mike munro 2

Michael Munro - Student Communications Officer

Email: michael.munro@nottingham.ac.uk  Phone: +44 (0)115 82 32353  Location: University Park

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