Chalmers University of Technology has been awarded the Accelerator of the Year award at this year's Jobbsprånget Summit 2025. The award is given to the employer who has increased the number of internships the most during the year within Jobbsprånget – Sweden's largest internship program for academics born outside Sweden. Through a rapidly growing commitment, Chalmers has opened more doors to working life and contributed to a more sustainable and inclusive labour market.
Motivation from Jobbsprånget:
Through their rapid growth and strong commitment, they are making a significant impact by contributing to a sustainable labour market and creating more opportunities for academics born outside Sweden. The award goes to the employer that has increased the number of internships offered the most during the year
Chalmers has participated in Jobbsprånget since 2017 and has during the past year greatly increased the number of internships in several different departments and divisions.
Read more about Jobbsprånget in the article below. It was published before the award cermony. The award goes to the hole university. Henrik Leion who is interviewed in the article was chosen to represent Chalmers.
When Henrik Leion started to get involved in Jobbsprånget, he was first driven by the non-profit idea of making a difference for someone else. Soon he became aware of the contribution the interns bring to his and the department's research.
Jobbsprånget is Sweden's largest internship program for academics born in other countries. The participants in the program receive the same compensation as unemployment insurance and the internship can´t compete with regular positions.
“What we do here at Chalmers fits in very well in that description. There are lots of things that need to be done in a research division that can give valuable work experience and qualifications for an intern, but is not part of any position," says Henrik Leion, Associate Professor at the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering.”
Discovered a gap in the system – found Jobbsprånget
Henrik Leion became involved in Jobbsprånget because he discovered that something was missing. There were many skilled candidates who applied for positions at his division that never got the job because they lacked work experience and references.
“They would have gotten it If I have had someone to call. That felt very wrong, I wanted to try to do something about it. I started googling and found Jobbsprånget," says Henrik Leion.”
The applicants’ skills can vary greatly, but it is usually not a major problem to adapt the internship to different educational backgrounds and experiences, says Henrik Leion. His experience so far is that they are often on a very high level.
“However, it is important to think about how you write your ad. It should be a good experience for both the person who applies and for the person who will be the supervisor," says Henrik Leion.”
In addition to strengthening the work at the research laboratory, Henrik Leion has several good examples of Jobbsprångare who have contributed with scientific output in published articles. One of them, who also turned be good enough to get an extended period at the department, is Henrik's Leion's first Jobbsprångare, Esraa Darwish. Today, Esraa Darwish is doing her PhD in nuclear chemistry.
” Jobbsprånget gave me the opportunity to enter academia at Chalmers, where I found a very welcoming and supportive environment and excellent supervision that helped me grow academically and develop my skills. This experience encouraged me to continue my journey here as a PhD student, says Esraa Darwish, doctoral student at the department of Chemistry and Chemical engineering”
Receipt for the difference Chalmers makes
Jobbsprånget seems to have become a natural part of Henrik's working life. He has trouble to remember exactly when he started and the exact number of interns he has hosted. On top of this he has encouraged colleagues to discover Jobbsprånget, like Diana Bernin, Associate professor at the same department. Thanks to Leandro Cid Gomes and Emmanouela Levantaki she has been able to host several interns in her research group. The total number hosted by the department is now reaching a high figure. For the entire university it is even higher, eighty-four from the start and nineteen during the past year.
“Chalmers, hosts Jobbsprångare in many parts of the organization. The nomination is for the entire university. Diana Bernin and I was selected as representatives by the organization behind Jobbsprånget because we have hosted many interns and have received extra nice feedback," says Henrik Leion.
As for all nominated award winners, it will be a nervous wait next week, but Henrik Leion appears to think that Jobbsprånget is already a big win for Chalmers.
“Winning is always fun, but I'm most happy about the fact that this is a receipt for the difference Chalmers has made in Jobbprånget, while we at the same time have gotten so much back from it. You might call it a classic win-win," concludes Henrik Leion.
More about the awards and Jobbsprånget
Chalmers University of Technology has been nominated for the Accelerator of the Year and Social Impact Award – these are two of the awards presented at the "Employer Stars and Heroes Awards at s Jobbsprånget Summit 15 May 2025. A total of five employers are nominated in each category.