Table of content
- What is a training agreement?
- What a training agreement should include
- Student’s part
- Institution’s part
- Company’s part
- Undertaking of each key player in the training agreement
- The sending higher education institution
- The sending institution and host organization jointly
- The host organization
- The student
- Type of placements and Training agreement
- Curricular or extra-curricular internship?
1. What is a training agreement?
A training agreement is basically a document that defines the nature of your internship or placement. The training contract is issued by your current or former university. Above all, it serves to ensure the quality of your placement. For this reason, we can also define it as a “Quality Commitment”* setting out the rights and obligations of all the parties involved in placements abroad. Last but not least, the training contract has to be signed by the sending institution (university), the host organization (the company) and the intern.
*Quality Commitment
>The European Quality Charter for Mobility defines the quality principles for placements.
2. What a training agreement should include
A training agreement is generally signed at the start of an apprenticeship. Otherwise, it is used to confirm the employment arrangements between the trainee and his future employer. Furthermore, the training contract includes a statement of the skills, trade or occupation under the qualifying apprenticeship framework.
1. STUDENTS’ part of the training agreement includes:
- Contact & Personal information
2. UNIVERSITY / SENDING INSTITUTION part of the training agreement includes:
- Contact information
- Supervisor / international office contact
Objectives of internship: - Knowledge, skills, and competencies to acquire
- Detailed program of the training period
- Tasks of the trainee
- Monitoring and evaluation plan
3. COMPANY’s part of the training agreement most include:
- Contact information
- Student internship placement
- Internship supervisor
- Dates of internship -> signatures of each party
3. Undertaking of each key player in the training agreement
The training agreement’s aim is to legalize an agreement between trainees and employers. As the training agreement is also used to define the role you’ll have in the company, it’s wise to pay enough attention to this part. So, let’s take a look at what you should care about while making the fulfillment of your training settlement:
1. The sending higher education institution
- Define the learning outcomes of the placement in terms of the knowledge, skills and competencies to acquire.
- Assist the student in choosing the right host organization, project duration and placement content to achieve these learning outcomes.
- Select students on the basis of clearly defined, transparent criteria and procedures.
- Sign a placement contract with the selected students.
- Prepare students for the practical, professional and cultural life of the host country. Particularly through language training, according to their occupational needs.
- Provide logistical support to students concerning travel arrangements, visa, accommodation, residence or work permits and social security cover or insurance.
- Give full recognition to the student for satisfactorily completed activities specified in the Training Agreement.
- Evaluate with each student the personal and professional development achieved through participation in the program.
2. The sending institution and host organization jointly
- Negotiate and agree on a tailor-made Training Agreement. It should include the program of the placement and the recognition arrangements for each student. Also, the adequate mentoring arrangements should be included.
- Monitor the progress of the placement and take appropriate action if required.
3. The host organization
- Assign to students tasks and responsibilities to match their knowledge, skills, competencies and training objectives. In the mean time, make sure that appropriate equipment and support is available.
- Draw a contract or an equivalent document. Moreover it needs to be in accordance with the requirements of the national legislation regarding placements.
- Appoint a mentor to advise students, help them with their integration in the host environment and monitor their training progress.
- Provide practical support if required. As in checking appropriate insurance cover and also simplify understanding of the culture of the host country.
4. The student
- Honor all negotiated agreements for his/her placement and to do his/her best to make the placement a success.
- Obey the rules and regulations of the host organization, the normal working hours, code of conduct and rules of confidentiality.
- Communicate with the sending institution in case of problems or changes regarding the placement.
- Submit a report in the specified format and any required supporting documents at the end of the placement.
- In the event that the higher education institution is integrated into a consortium, its commitments may be shared with the coordinating organization of the consortium.
4. Type of placements and Training agreement
As you probably already know, placements can be curricular or extracurricular. A training agreement is required when we’re talking about a curriculair placement. At the same time, the agreement prevents you to enroll in unprotected work. Meanwhile, it also helps to avoid invisible exploitation. Furthermore, there are no limitations to what kind of school provides the training agreement, which means they can be public or private. (universities, TEFL schools, high schools, etc)
1. Curricular or extra-curricular internship?
Curricular: A curricular placement is providing ECTS credits. Furthermore, it’s mentioned in the title of the student after the bachelor has been completed.
Extracurricular: These are internships done on a voluntary basis.. The aim is to transfer knowledge and therefore every placement in which you work, will have some kind of training contract available. If not, ask for it and you will have prove that you did the internship.