Helping young people to find trainings and internships
- The European Commission means business
The European Commission recently launched the We Mean Business campaign, which aims to encourage companies to create more trainee placements to boost young people's skills and employability. At the same time, traineeships can help young people make a smooth transition from education and training to a first good job.
The Commission will provide funding support for a total of 280 000 placements through its Leonardo da Vinci and Erasmus schemes for vocational and higher education students. In 2012, at least 130 000 young people will receive support for a traineeship in a workplace abroad. This figure should rise to 150 000 next year.
- Two calls for quality internships
The European Quality Charter of Internships and Apprenticeships is an initiative of the European Youth Forum and other organizations as well as Members of the European Parliament.
The Charter urges all the providers of internships and apprenticeships to commit to quality standards and to apply a clear and coherent code of conduct, leading by example.
The signatories ask European countries, European institutions and social partners to commit to establish legal quality frameworks for internships and apprenticeships.The initiative calls on internship and apprenticeship providers and public decision makers to adopt a system of certification and to ensure the recognition of the knowledge and skills acquired though internships and apprenticeships. Implementation of this Charter does not constitute valid grounds to reduce the general level of protection afforded at national level.
A fair internships campaign was also launched by the Trades Union Congress in the UK. Their website sets out what rights one has as an intern and how they can be enforced. The campaign is advertised on campuses across the country through the National Union of Students. Watch the comedy video to find out why being an intern is not an easy task.