International internships as a way to travel for free.
An international internship is a great way to experience professional life and work abroad without time and money. Such internships are now available in all existing specialities: IT, management, marketing, engineering, science, art, music, etc.
Such internships are now available in all existing specialities: IT, management, marketing, engineering, science, art, music, etc. Likely, the duration of participation is from 3 months to 1 year. If you show yourself as an experienced and hardworking person, then, the employer can extend the period up to 2–3 years.
Age limits
The average age is from 18 to 35 years old, which is seen as appropriate for the invitation to temporary work, and the work is usually full time on an equal basis with other employees. In some cases, elderly candidates with more experience are considered if the project specifics require it. The main selection criteria include age, education and knowledge of a foreign language.
Money issue
Professional internships can be paid or unpaid due to the area of your choice and the fund or organization providing these opportunities. I was lucky and succeeded to win Erasmus Mundus funding which covered all necessary expenses. Nowadays, this program is renewed and is called Erasmus Plus. In fact, it is a worldwide program and opens up the opportunity to study in Europe for students of all countries.
Another strong program, to my mind, is Fulbright program sponsored by the United States Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. It offers international educational and cultural exchange programs for passionate and accomplished students, scholars, artists, teachers, and professionals of all backgrounds to study, teach.
Opportunities to get funding in Europe.
There is also a very reliable fund that is mainly devoted to the education sector called DAAD. It is the world’s largest funding organization in Germany for the international exchange of students and researchers.
The International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience (non-profit association), commonly known as IAESTE. It serves 4000 students, 3000 employers and 1000 academic institutions through career-focused professional internships abroad, social and intercultural reception programs, international networking and other career and employer branding activities in more than 80 countries worldwide.
Another one is Nordic Culture Point for some creative specializations to strengthen artistic and cultural cooperation in the Nordic region and Baltic states. The program focuses on increasing the exchange of knowledge, contacts, presence and interest in Nordic and Baltic art and culture.
And, Visegrad Fund is an international donor organization, established in 2000 by the governments of the Visegrad Group countries — Czechia, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia to promote regional cooperation in the Visegrad region (V4) as well as between the V4 region and other countries, especially in the Western Balkans and Eastern Partnership regions.
Of course, there a hundreds of opportunities provided by organizations by itself concerning your area. Here are some of them:
Rotary Youth Exchange program — Through the program, participants learn languages, experience new cultures and become global citizens. Exchange occurs between students ages 15–19 and is sponsored by Rotary in over 100 countries.
http:// www.rotary.org/en/our-programs/youth-exchanges
Thomas Reuters Foundation — is the opportunities for journalists. The internship looks like a three or six — month research program. The organization provides a modern education and research environment.
http:// www.trust.org
Microsoft Internships — the company regularly provides an opportunity for undergraduate, graduate, postgraduate and recent university graduates to takeparticipate part in one of the internship programs.
http:// careers.microsoft.com/students/us/en
Traineeships in the European Parliament — The European Parliament offers different vacancies for interns in the Secretariat. The purpose of the internship is to help young citizens gain the necessary experience. The duration of the internship is 5 months. Each candidate can apply for 3 vacancies.
http:// www.europarl.europa.eu/at-your-service/en/work-with-us/traineeships
CCP Fellowships — With the CCP Fellowships, the CrossCulture Programme (CCP) funds around 100 professionals and committed volunteers from 42 countries each year. During two to three months of practical training in host organizations in Germany or in CCP partner countries, participants deepen their expertise and acquire intercultural skills.
http:// www.ifa.de/en/fundings/ccp-fellowships/
And many, many, other opportunities. However, it is possible to drown in the wide variety of opportunities and lose all of them due to the wrong choice. I spent almost 5 years in getting the knowledge and skills in defining the correct program for me and further winning it. I would be glad to share my experience and assist in your way of international expert growth.
If you have any question, feel free to contact me: www.getforeignstudy.com
