Work Without Borders

A Scandinavian Partnership for International Talent Retention

Across Scandinavia, companies and regions face a growing shortage of qualified labour. At the same time, thousands of international students and graduates already live, study and thrive in our regions—yet too few remain after graduation. Work Without Borders (WWB) brings together partners from Denmark, Sweden and Norway to close this gap.

The project’s purpose is clear: to develop, test and implement a shared Scandinavian method for retaining international talent, built on the international talent journey (Orientation → Qualification → Networking → Landing) and strengthened by a new, crucial element: bridging the gap to employers.
Work Without Borders is carried out by nine partners across three countries, representing universities, NGOs, municipalities, talent hubs and employer organisations.

Together, we aim to:

Increase awareness of opportunities in the Scandinavian labour market
Strengthen skills, confidence and networks among international students and graduates
Prepare and motivate employers to hire international talent
Develop a practical, scalable method that can be used by organisations across Scandinavia

Throughout 2025–2028, partners will test activities such as mentorship programmes, career workshops, cross-regional webinars, case competitions, mini-internships, employer engagement events and alumni networks. The results feed directly into a unified Scandinavian model—designed to be simple, replicable and impactful.

Work Without Borders is funded by Interreg Øresund-Kattegat-Skagerrak and supports the vision of a more connected and competitive region.

Why the Project Matters

Scandinavia is facing a structural challenge: labour shortages are growing, especially in fields requiring advanced skills, international outlook and language diversity. Recruiting globally is costly and complex, while many international students already living in our regions struggle to access local labour markets due to:

limited networks
cultural and linguistic barriers
lack of knowledge about employers
implicit bias and uncertainty among companies

At the same time, companies increasingly rely on informal networks in their hiring processes—networks that international students rarely have access to.

Work Without Borders addresses both sides of the challenge:

Preparing international students and graduatesfor the Scandinavian workplace
Supporting employersin becoming more open, informed and confident in hiring internationally

This dual approach is essential. Retention can only succeed if both individuals and companies are ready to meet each other.

The initiative is particularly important for regions outside the Scandinavian capitals—such as Midtjylland, Halland and Sørlandet—where internationalisation levels are lower, but the need for skilled employees is high. By learning from each other across borders, partners can build innovative solutions faster and with greater effect.

Activities Ahead – Building Bridges Through Shared Action

In the coming months, Work Without Borders will begin the first round of cross-regional pilot activities. Each activity is designed to test what works, what doesn’t, and how organisations can translate successful models into their own context. Here is a preview of selected initiatives:

Helping International Students Navigate the Scandinavian Labour Market

We introduce international students to opportunities across Scandinavia through webinars, workshops, career events and digital information hubs. These activities give them a clearer understanding of job culture, employer expectations and entry routes into the labour market in Denmark, Sweden and Norway.

Career Readiness – Building motivation, confidence and employability

Through career‑learning programmes, coaching and practice‑oriented workshops, we help students strengthen motivation, self-awareness and key professional skills. These initiatives prepare them for job searching, collaboration and navigating the expectations of Nordic workplaces.

Mentorship – Connecting talent directly with industry

Our mentorship programmes match international students and graduates with experienced professionals. Mentors provide sector insights, guidance and access to professional networks—support that often makes a decisive difference when taking the first steps into the labour market.

We establish local and regional networks for international graduates to share experiences, exchange opportunities and expand their contacts. Alumni and ambassador networks help build community, reduce isolation and increase the visibility of international talent across the region.