IAESTE
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience commonly referred to as IAESTE (pronounced i-ai-es-te or ai-es-te) is an international organization exchanging students for technical work experience abroad. Students gain relevant technical training lasting from 6 weeks to 18 months. The organization is non-profit.
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[edit] IAESTE aims
IAESTEs motto is "Students, technology & cultural understanding". IAESTEs aims are to:
- Connect students with employers in foreign countries.
- Provide university students technical experience.
- Culturally enrich students and their host communities.
[edit] History
IAESTE was founded in 1948 at Imperial College, London. The Imperial College Vacation Work Committee headed by Mr. James Newby initiated a meeting with national organizations from 10 European countries in a post war effort to promote better understanding between countries and cultures.
Since 1948, the association has grown to include more than 80 countries world-wide and has exchanged in excess of 300,000 students. Yearly IAESTE exchanges around 6000 students playing a important role in giving technical undergraduates practical work experience and a global perspective.
[edit] Organization structure
[edit] International organization structure
The IAESTE Association is a confederation of National Committees representing academic, industrial, and student interests. Coordinating the daily administration of the association is the responsibility of the General Secretary. The General Secretary is elected for two years and is responsible to the General Conference or the GC as it is called in the IAESTE. The GC makes the formal decisions in IAESTE and is composed of one delegate (National Secretary) from each country. The GC meets every year in January and is forum for discussion.
The Board is an elected body which prepares the work of the General Conference and advises the General Secretary. It is composed of four elected members and the General Secretary.
The GC is the most important event of IAESTE each year. Here every country brings job offers they have obtained in their own country. Every job is written on a standardized form stating where and when the job is, who is eligible for the job and which qualifications (language, skills, etc) are required. The jobs are traded during the Exchange Sessions. During these sessions countries meet and try to get the best possible jobs to bring back home. This is very hectic as countries try to get the best jobs. These jobs either has to fit pre-selected students or are open for applications for students back home.
On other notable event at the GC is the "International Party". At this party every member country brings national dish, drinks and clothes. The food is varied, and many countries take their pride in bringing their most foul tasting dish, for instance Iceland usually brings "Svarta Daudi" (Black Death) and Kæstur hákarl (putrefied shark).
The international work is funded by member fees based on GDP per capita and number of students sent abroad and is paid by the National Committees.
[edit] National organization structure
The National Committees represent the member countries and are composed of persons representing academic, industrial and student interests. Every full member of the IAESTE has one vote at the GC. The National Secretary is normally the person with the formal vote, even though the decisions are often made by the whole National Committee.
Each National Committee is responsible for the administration of the exchange in its own country. Membership is given after the establishment of a National Committee in accordance with the statutes of IAESTE, together with a responsible permanent secretariat. The type of secretariat which administers the exchange varies according to each country's national structure, educational system, and funding policies. The essential requirement is that the national secretariat, whatever its organization and status, should have competent permanent staff.
Every country has their own way of organizing the work of IAESTE, but the National Committee can mainly be classified in four categories:
- Student driven - The National Secretary is a student, normally serving for one to two years. Often there is one employed administrative staff for paperwork and keeping contact with other national committees, but the students are making decisions, organizing trainees and even raising funds. Examples are Norway, Denmark, Austria, and Croatia.
- Academically - The National Secretary is a professor or employed by an university to front IAESTE on the behalf of the university or the country. Usually the have students to welcome trainees, but students are not involved in the decision-making. Examples are Turkey, Portugal.
- Governmental - An employee of a governmental international work exchange organization is the National Secretary. Usually the organization is responsible for several exchange programs and is quite professional. They also often employ students for reception of trainees. Examples are Finland, Switzerland and UK.
- Other - Non-profit organization funded by various sources (students, companies, government) but not affiliated with a single institution. Examples are China, USA.
IAESTE varies a lot from country to country and even within countries there can be big difference from one city to another. The traineeship also varies a lot: some countries have extended programs with students employed to help and organize events (Example from Norway of the social part of beeing a trainee ), while in other places arriving trainees organize events themselves.
[edit] IAESTE today
IAESTE today includes 84 countries of the world, with a potential of accepting new countries in the organization every year. On the General conference 2005 held in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, a statute and by-laws of IAESTE a.b.s.l. has been established, making IAESTE a registered "associacion sans but lucratif" (non-profit organization), with the centre in Luxembourg. Current general secretary is Pauline Ferguson of Northern Ireland.
