New Volvo Group Partnership to Bring New Opportunities for Poole College, Engineering Students

This week, North Carolina State University’s Poole College of Management and College of Engineering became one of seven universities worldwide in the Volvo Group’s Academic Partner Program (APP) Preferred Talent Partner Cooperation Program.

The relationship was formalized with the signing of a memorandum of understanding on Tuesday, Oct. 30, by NC State Provost Warwick Arden and Kerstin Renard, Volvo’s executive vice president of human resources. During an open house following the signing of the memorandum, Volvo executives spent time talking with students about Volvo Group and internship, mentorship and employment opportunities with the company. Poole College Dean Ira Weiss was among those participating in the signing ceremony.

“We’re enthusiastic about the opportunity to expose our talented students to global firms like Volvo Group,” Arden said. “NC State is known for its capacity in providing outstanding graduates prepared to lead in a knowledge-based economy. We hope this partnership will open yet another pipeline for our students in an important and growing workforce.”

The new relationship will especially focus on students in NC State’s College of Engineering and Poole College of Management who are studying in areas related to Volvo Group’s needs for internships and career positions.

In Poole College, Volvo is looking for students in accounting, finance, human resources, marketing or sales, and supply chain management.

Volvo Group focuses on innovation in commercial transportation with an emphasis on safety. In 2011, it inaugurated Sweden’s most advanced driving simulator in Gothenburg , Sweden, which will be used by Volvo Group to continue development of the world’s safest trucks, buses and construction equipment as well as to strengthen Gothenburg’s position as a world-leading automotive research center. It also announce the testing a new city bus of the future, and new measures to reduce CO2 emissions by using extra long vehicles for transports from the Volvo terminal to the Gothenburg harbour.

Following the signing ceremony, Volvo Group and NC State officials met for discussions including a town hall meeting with Randall Woodson, NC State Chancellor; Forrest Allen, associate director, NC State corporate and Foundation relations; Martin Vega, College of Engineering dean; and Ira R. Weiss, Poole College of Management dean.

Representing Volvo group were Torbjörn Holmström, executive vice president and head of Volvo Group Trucks Technology; Denny Slagle, executive vice president, group trucks sales and marketing Americas; Karin Hogberg, senior vice president for human resource, group trucks sales and marketing; and Kelley Dameron, director of talent management.

A networking event at Golden Leaf Biomanufacturing Training & Education Center on NC State’s Centennial Campu, attended by NC State students, faculty and staff, concluded the day’s activities.