A student’s Erasmus+ journey doesn’t have to end at graduation: Insights into the Erasmus+ Traineeship Experience

The train conductor announces the arrival to your home station, with a big sigh you are ready to once again embrace your loved ones and tell them about the great adventure that has been your learning mobility experience in a different country. A truly enriching experience and the excitement can be heard in your voice, so many different things encountered but also so many similarities found in people and in places. For sure, the lessons of this period will stay with you forever. In short, your life has changed! But, does it have to be the end of your mobility journey?

Thanks to Erasmus+ support for traineeships this doesn’t have to be the case! The opportunity is open for students currently enrolled in higher education institutions in Programme Countries at Bachelor and Master level, as well as doctoral candidates and also recent graduates!

But, what is happening with Erasmus+ traineeships?

Despite the Erasmus+ support and the numerous advantages stemming from an international working experience they account for less than 30% of all Erasmus+ mobility. This situation led to the development of the project “Digitalising Erasmus Traineeship Application & Support” (DETAS) so that a more in depth view into traineeships and the student experience could be obtained in order to foster changes and implement improvements that will benefit not just students but also employers, universities and societies at large.

The research report looking into the Erasmus+ traineeship experience was launched in early 2025 (From Digital Gaps to Seamless Journeys), a result of a long process of collecting academic data and providing a space for student voices. Evidence shows the increasing value of international work placements in a rapidly evolving job market, they can provide students with critical real-world experience, improving their employability and intercultural skills while employers benefit from a larger pool of young talent.

However, administrative complexities and unclear expectations pose barriers to students, employers and universities. In order to better support students in their traineeship journeys, student voices underline that it will be essential to address the challenges identified such as digital fragmentation with outdated platforms, financial barriers limiting access for low-income students, lack of support before departure and limited employer engagement due to administrative burdens.

The findings of the report are backed by results coming from the biggest Erasmus+ student survey (ESN surveys) and the Eurobarometer (the European Commission public opinion survey) which confirm the difficulties in securing financial support and housing, as well as inconsistencies in the recognition of the traineeship experience.

The challenges faced by trainees and employers, beyond Erasmus+ mobility, has led to a push at EU level for renewing the Council Recommendation on a Reinforced Quality Framework for Traineeships and bringing about legislative changes through a proposed Traineeships Directive. These policy instruments aim to address the challenges in this field by looking into fair compensation, clear learning objectives, and improved social protections.

What will the DETAS project do to foster positive changes in Erasmus+ mobilities?

With the impetus coming from the policy arena and the calls for action from the student community, the DETAS consortium will work to operationalise the much needed changes to ensure a more streamlined ecosystem through innovations like an upgraded ErasmusIntern.org platform to support students and employers in finding the right match. At the same time, the partners will work to develop strong institutional support: encouraging universities to treat traineeships as a core mobility option rather than a secondary opportunity and to look into improvements in the preparation programmes that help equip trainees with essential cultural and professional knowledge. In this way offering students the best conditions to kick-start their international traineeship experience.

Collaborative action among universities, policymakers, and employers is crucial to ensure equitable access to high-quality international work experiences. Whether it is for a student that has already been in mobility and is looking for their next international experience or for students that did not have the chance during their studies and want to move from education to employment by challenging themselves abroad. The DETAS project partners aim to engage all these actors to support all students and to make Erasmus+ traineeships a seamless and rewarding journey, cultivating globally competent graduates across Europe.

For more details, the full report is available here.