1.1 Finding suitable partners and internships
What?
Make sure available work places are suitable for the students’ learning pathway. If the hosting partner is a company a suitable workplace should be provided which meets the needs and profiles of the participants. If the hosting partner is a college a suitable workplace will be provided with collaborating companies
Why?
Short term benefits:
- Trainees will improve competencies and skills
- Trainees will experience real world work situations
- Trainees have the opportunity to improve their language skills
- Hosting partner will have extra quality human resource
- Employees have opportunity to improve knowledge about other cultures and languages
Long term benefits:
- Improves employability for trainees
- Hosting partner is able to recruit quality workers for the company
- Hosting partner is able to feedback to vocational education and training colleges
How?
- A letter of intent is sent to the potential hosting partner, describing the project (See examples in Coordinators’ Tools section)
- The hosting partner decides whether the proposal is feasible and may propose changes. At the stage telephone or email are considered the best form of communication unless it is the first collaboration of partners, when a preparatory visit is recommended if financial viable
Mind!
It is advisable that the terms and conditions of the activity be put on paper (in the letter of intent) so as to avoid misunderstandings.
No personal data about the participants is exchanged at this stage, as the final selection has not yet taken place.