Young people, regions and companies
Where do I find information?
Check the Eurodyssey Website under the menu “Members” -> “Young persons”, “Regions”, “Companies and Organisations”, as well as the “How does it work” section. It includes useful information about Eurodyssey traineeships, the application process, and what is provided. The present FAQ complements it with specific questions.
Young people – Applicants to traineeships
How do I apply for a traineeship?
You need to create an account on this website. Then, simply follow the steps by filling in the requested information, and specifying your preferred choices / regions for a traineeship.
Please do not send applications by email, they will not be considered. Only applications submitted through the website will be considered.
My region is not part of Eurodyssey. Am I eligible to apply to the traineeship offers?
No. Only young people who are residents in the participating regions can undertake a traineeship under the Eurodyssey programme. If your region of residence is not part of Eurodyssey, you are unfortunately not eligible to apply.
We encourage you to reach out to your representatives in your regional council / county council to let them know about the Eurodyssey programme, and the interest of the young people they represent in benefitting from the opportunity!
Where can I apply?
If you are eligible to a Eurodyssey traineeship, you can apply to the traineeship offers in the other participating regions, and in a different country than yours. Eurodyssey is a international mobility programme, so part of the experience is to go to a different country. For example, if you are based in Catalonia, you cannot apply to the traineeship offers in the other Spanish regions (Murcia and Valencia), but you can apply to the traineeship offers in the other countries.
Are traineeships paid? How does it work? What is covered?
Yes, all traineeships under Eurodyssey are paid, in all participating regions. Eurodyssey trainees will receive a monthly stipend, as well as accommodation, a language course, meal vouchers and public transportation reimbursement. Depending on the regions, different options exist:
- Option 1: you receive a stipend, and your rent is directly covered by the region.
- Option 2: your rent is not directly covered by the region, so you receive a bigger stipend allowing you to pay for your rent.
- In addition: meal vouchers and public transportation reimbursement can be covered by your region or by the company where you do your traineeship.
- Language courses are organised by the region, or you receive an additional envelope to cover your language course.
So, the regions are paying the trainees?
Yes, Eurodyssey traineeships are sponsored by the regions, who pay the trainees. The companies may be the ones paying for your meal vouchers and public transportation, but the regions are the ones financing your stipend and accommodation. To see what the different regions cover, the amounts, and the specificities from one region to another, check out their profiles on the website!
Is the language course mandatory?
Unless you already speak the language of your host region, yes, it is. Language learning and valuing language diversity are an important dimension of Eurodyssey. Besides, speaking the language of your host region / country will prove useful for your traineeship and your interactions with locals.
The registration form for young people, as well as the traineeship offers, mention the required language level expected for the traineeship. It refers to the CEFR system, ranking language levels from A1 to C2. You can assess your language level by referring to the CEFR table here.
Am I insured?
Yes. The Assembly of European Regions (AER), the international non-profit association who created Eurodyssey, and gathers participating regions in it, coordinates the programme and provides international insurance for trainees, covering accidents and emergencies (e.g. emergency hospitalisation, repatriation…). When you accept a traineeship offer, the website will automatically generate your insurance certificate. Once you sign it and send it back, you are insured. Besides, during your traineeship, your contact person in your host region will be there to answer any question you may have, and liaise with the AER or the insurance if needed.
More information about the insurance HERE.
Please note that, if you are a EU citizen doing your traineeship in the EU, you should also carry your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), provided by your national health insurance provider, for the entire duration of your traineeship
No traineeship offer suits me. What can I do?
Be patient, and check the website regularly. Traineeship offers are published all year long, and the regions may have different hosting periods.
Regions – Hosting & Sending trainees
When a region joins Eurodyssey, who do they work with and how are they supported?
The management of Eurodyssey is divided between the regions (hosting and sending) and the AER Secretariat (coordination, statutory matters, website management, insurance).
The regions have their Eurodyssey coordinators and correspondents, in charge of the day-to-day practical organisation and implementation of the programme in their region.
The AER Secretariat has a Programmes Coordinator, in charge of organising regular meetings between the Eurodyssey correspondents, answering questions and requests, co-organising the yearly Eurodyssey Forum with a host region, providing website training and technical support with the web developer, liaising with the insurance, monitoring statutory matters (e.g. election of the Eurodyssey Steering Committee).
Communication and promotion of the Eurodyssey programme are undertaken by both the AER and the participating regions.
The Eurodyssey network is a wonderful community to work with, and a well-organised programme, running since 1985. Joining Eurodyssey means joining a functioning structure with both the AER Secretariat and counterparts in the region to support you and provide you training and mentorship, for a smooth implementation of Eurodyssey in your region!
As a region, do I have access to the Eurodyssey website?
Yes, all participating regions have their admin access to the website. It is essential for the regions to be able to review applications from young people and from companies, for example to check that these applicants and companies are based in their region. Eurodyssey is managed by regions, they have the decision-making power to validate applications from young people and traineeship offers submitted by companies. Worry not: the administration of the website is quite straightforward for regions, you will benefit from website training from the AER Secretariat and an experienced region when joining the programme, and the AER Programmes Coordinator and web developer will be available to answer your questions or fix anything you need.
What is the Steering Committee?
The Steering Committee is composed of a maximum of 10 members, representing active member regions of the Eurodyssey programme. It includes a representative from the AER Secretariat. This body is in charge of taking decisions or submit proposals related to Eurodyssey, such as statutory or procedural changes, accepting new members, organising the Eurodyssey Forum, etc.
It is elected at the Eurodyssey Forum for a two-year mandate.
What is the Eurodyssey Forum?
The Eurodyssey Forum is a yearly event, co-organised by a host region and the AER Secretariat, after consultation with the Steering Committee. It is a yearly conference, lasting two or three days, consisting of plenary sessions and capacity-building workshops, allowing to showcase Eurodyssey and its results, to organise training for the members, to collect their ideas, requests and questions, to strengthen ties between the Eurodyssey correspondents and coordinators, to create network opportunities, to elect the Steering Committee (every two years). All Eurodyssey participating regions have voting rights at the Forum.
I am a region / a county. How do I join the Eurodyssey programme?
Please contact the Programmes Coordinator at the AER Secretariat. They will provide you with all information on the procedure to apply (letter of intent, questionnaire), liaise with the Steering Committee for the review of your application, and will inform you once your application is validated. They will then include you in the Eurodyssey network, and provide you with the adequate training and mentorship, including from an experienced region, for you to master the information and tools you need.
Please note that if your region is not a member of the AER, AER membership will be required maximum two years after joining the Eurodyssey programme, or you won’t be able to take part in it anymore.
Companies / Host organisations
Am I responsible for the insurance cover of my trainee?
Under labour law, employers are expected to provide a workplace accident insurance for all their employees (trainees included) anyway. In addition, the Assembly of European Regions (AER) provides an international insurance for all Eurodyssey trainees, covering personal accident, civil liability, health and repatriation. When the traineeship takes place in the European Union, it is also mandatory for the trainees to carry their European Health Insurance Card.
More information about the Eurodyssey insurance HERE.
How can I publish a traineeship offer?
First, you need to register on the Eurodyssey website (“Registration” tab in the main menu -> “Company registration”). Your registration will then be reviewed by your region, who will check your eligibility (e.g. your company is based in the region, you are legally registered, you can provide a tutor for the trainee, etc.). Once your registration is validated by the region, you will be able to submit traineeship offers. Here as well, the region will need to validate your traineeship offer, and then it will be published.
I am not a company, but a different kind of organisation (association, public administration). Am I eligible to hire Eurodyssey trainees?
Yes, as long as you match the eligibility criteria (legally registered, based in a participating region, adequate tutor / support for the trainee, etc.). You can be an association or a public administration. For example, NGOs, associations and public administrations (e.g. municipalities) hire Eurodyssey trainees in some of the participating regions.
Miscellaneous
I am a journalist, a student publication, etc., and I would like to write an article / conduct an interview about Eurodyssey. Who do I contact?
Please contact [email protected]
I am a Eurodyssey region, trainee, alumni or company, and I have Eurodyssey-related testimonies, pictures or videos that I would like to share! Who do I send them to?
Please contact [email protected]