Need for cultural competencies paves the way for collaboration
For Sigma Kudos in Växjö, collaboration with Linnaeus University goes without saying. The company has a continuous need for new knowledge, well-educated staff and employees with cultural compentencies, which motivates a continued collaboration.
– It has worked really well, and it has helped us tremendously to have someone who is good at his job and knows the language, says Niklas Malmros.
So well, in fact, that Dongyong Du will be appointed at one of our China offices when he returns.
– The best thing about working at a company is the opportunity to test your knowledge. I now know that what I have learned in theory can also be put into practice. I also found out which type of knowledge I need to invest in so that I can develop further, says Dongyong Du.
He did not have any plans to stay in Sweden.
– My career opportunities in China are very good. Besides, there is someone there waiting for me.
Niklas Malmros – who studied mathematics at university level – is familiar with the academic world, and he believes it could be used much better as a resource by local businesses.
Sigma Kudos is one of the world-leading suppliers of information management solutions and technical product information. The company has about 400 employees, of which 20 are located in Växjö.
– We need engineers and system developers with language skills, who understand that different countries have various levels of technological development, says Niklas Malmros, Global Operational Manager.
Since 2007, the company has been developing technical information for telecom businesses such as Ericsson and Sony Ericsson in China. In the beginning, Sigma Kudos brought its employees to Sweden to teach them how to work with technical information. Through his contacts in other collaboration projects, Niklas Malmros heard that there are Chinese students at the university. He was quick to welcome students who wanted to do project work in the field of information logistics.
– Multicultural competencies are extremely important for us to be able to deliver good solutions to our customers.
The first Chinese student turned out to have the perfect competence, and was offered a job at our Shanghai office after his degree in Växjö.
– To have someone who understands both China and Sweden is of great value to us.
Dongyong Du will finish his Master's degree in Information Systems next autumn. By that time, he has gained experience from six months at Sigma Kudos in Växjö, among other things as an interpreter when Chinese customers come to visit.