For the first time in Belgium, an inspiring event dedicated to students and young professionals interested in a career in space will be held on October 8thin the Palais d’Egmont in Brussels. More than 50 speakers – including Belgian ESA astronaut Frank De Winne as well as various stakeholders originating from Brussels, Flanders and Wallonia – will provide a comprehensive overview of the many job opportunities offered within the industrial, academic and scientific communities.
The main objective is to present the many career opportunities in the space domain to a young audience. Representatives of the European Commission, the European Space Agency (ESA) and EUMETSAT as well as space companies and organisations will be present. Young professionals and students who will attend the event will be able to network, to talk to potential employers, and possibly to establish a first contact for a job or internship in one of the leading space companies or organisations in Belgium.
“I had a dream!” said Dominique Tilmans, chair of YouSpace. “Organizing a large event that will help young people take the best decision for their future, knowing all existing opportunities in space”.
Indeed, many young people do not consider space-related studies because of a lack of information, and most students are never presented with the opportunities offered by the space business. This is very unfortunate sinceprofessionals in the space sector are more and more in demand. And we are not just talking about engineers and scientists. Today almost every sector is linked to space in one way or another, and young professionals trained in other fields (e.g. lawyers, physicians, agronomists, accountants or biologists) can also build a fascinating career in space.
Besides, Belgium has a space budget that ranks 7thglobally when expressed as a percentage of GDP (just after the USA, Russia, France, Japan, China and India) and Belgian companies deliver world-class products and services for space missions all over the world.
Practical information
This event will take place on October 8thin the Palais d’Egmont in Brussels from 9:00 until 18:00. Attendance is free for students, but online registration is mandatory. More information, including the detailed program of the day, can be found at www.switchtospace.org.
About the event
The event, called “Switch to Space”, is hosted by YouSpace, with the support of sponsors such as Belspo, EUMETSAT, QinetiQ Space, Vito, SABCA, Spacebel, the European Space Agency (ESA), the European Commission, ISSeP as well as many volunteers. The mission of YouSpace is to help young and ambitious people interested in the space sector to take their first steps towards achieving their goals and boosting their career.
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