Qualicum Beach will get a small taste of Germany this summer, when the town plays host to four students from the University of Applied Sciences in Ludwigsburg.
The students, said corporate administrator Trudy Coates, will reside in the community for nine weeks, from June 11 to August 14.
“This is a work experience program for management that is a prerequisite for university in Germany for public administration,” Coates said. “Before they graduate, they need to do a two-month work practicum in another country.”
While in Qualicum Beach, the students will work with the municipality, learning how it operates and giving insights into how similar problems and issues are tackled in their home country.
“They provide us with a list of their areas of focus and we talk to them about where they might get experience,” Coates said. “We usually find one or two special projects they work on while they here.”
Coates stressed the students chosen for the program have excellent English skills and are very willing workers. She also noted the program comes at no cost to the municipality.
“It’s a benefit to us, as it broadens our knowledge about processes,” she said.
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