Three HVL students on internship at ViteMeir - get to help build from the start
The three students have been drawn into the world of ViteMeir, and will have a unique internship period as the very first interns at the science center that opens this fall.
- I imagined that I could get more out of the internship with an organization that is in the planning stage than with one that is already open," says Kine Bårdsen.
She, Marie Fotland and Janne Merete Bøyum will soon finish their first year of tourism management studies at Western Norway University of Applied Sciences. Towards the summer, they have been offered internships at the science center.
- "I wanted to try something other than hotels, which I have experience from. I wanted to try something more administrative and see if it's something for me," says Marie Fotland.
All three got a good impression when daily manager Erlend Fardal Lunde presented the company at an industry seminar together with several companies from the business community in Sogn to attract students.
- "It was incredibly exciting when he told me that I could help build something from the start. With a clean slate," says Janne Merete Bøyum.
On one of the days, the students were able to join Erlend Fardal Lunde for a coffee chat on campus. From left. Marie Fotland, Janne Merete Bøyum, and Kine Bårdsen.
Many new impressions
The three students have now completed two weeks of the internship and are already full of new impressions, new experiences and have met many new people.
- "I expected that there would be some meetings and that I would be sitting in an office, and that I would gain knowledge about the more administrative tasks, such as marketing, recruitment and knowledge about how to get a business off the ground," says Marie, who comes from Osterøy.
- And how has it been so far, Kine?
- "So far I'm pleasantly surprised, and I expected things to be more difficult. More messy in a way, considering that there are many different people on the team, and everyone is in their own corner," says Kine.
Insight into business life provided motivation
Among other things, they have been involved in developing a teambuilding product, conducted market research and attended a number of meetings, including the general meeting of the Sogn og Fjordane Business Council.
- "I looked around, and there was a boss for it and a boss for it, and the content was incredibly exciting. I thought that this was something I could do. It gave me motivation," says Marie.
- It was exciting to see all the different people. I haven't heard of them before. Everything is new and exciting, and I felt like an important person," says Kine, who comes from Arna.
In addition to joint tasks, they are involved in several small projects where they contribute or provide inspiration to the others in the team. These include social media, a VR simulator and music programming.
Many who are helping to build up
They have also been able to meet most of the ViteMeir team, and gained an insight into how many people are involved in building up the company.
- "It's quite exciting to see how many people it takes to build up the company from all angles, and keeping track of all those threads is impressive," says Janne Merete, from Fjærland.
- "I was dizzy at first trying to keep track of everything," says Kine.
TOUR: The students were given a tour of the massive wooden building at Kaupanger.
ViteMeir will take over the building at Kaupanger in September, and it will open in November, which means that at the moment all the employees are sitting in their own corners, which is the only thing the interns think is a bit stupid.
Despite this, they feel that the working environment is good, and it is a community that they have become a good part of after just two weeks.
- There are no strict roles. There's a good balance between the day-to-day and being a manager and employee," says Marie.
- They have a job to do, but they're having fun. And we already feel like part of the team. It's not like a dictatorship," laughs Kine.
- "Yes, the other day our boss brought us coffee while we were developing the product," adds Janne Merete.