InternshipConnect: learning from European best practices to improve internships

As part of the InternshipConnect project, European partners analysed 25 good practices for internships and apprenticeships from six countries: Slovenia, Italy, France, Ireland, Portugal and Latvia. This analysis is an important step towards developing a European model for quality internships, based on practical experience and cooperation between stakeholders in education and the world of work.

The practices studied come from companies, vocational training establishments, youth organisations and public institutions. Despite the diversity of contexts, one common point clearly emerges: cooperation between schools and companies, combined with structured mentoring, is a key factor for success.

The analysis also shows that internships play a key role in the transition to employment. They enable young people to link theoretical knowledge to professional experience, develop their technical and transferable skills, and boost their self-confidence. In several cases, mentors helped interns to identify skills that they themselves did not perceive, which is important for their motivation and employability.

The study also highlights several common challenges, such as the sometimes insufficient length of internships, the lack of training for mentors, and language barriers in international mobility programmes. These findings demonstrate the importance of developing common tools to improve the quality of internships in Europe.