Specialization Traineeship 2

Suciu Ștefania Ioana

For the second task of this Specialization Traineeship, the aim here is to analyse the platform Eurodesk, once again it’s important to see the ways it is organized, and the main values and what it has to offer to the young generation. This platform is a EU-funded site, where its aim is to provide important information about possible career development opportunities, also offering advice about education traineeships and other mobilities. In the previous task I had to analyse the European Youth Portal, but it’s also important to learn more about this platform in order to see a different perspective. From a first general perspective the Eurodesk platform does seem to be more practical, which does also have that sort of personalized approach that could be beneficial for master’s degree students. From the perspective of a student like me, it’s important to take advantage of the possible career opportunities as well as all the mobilities present across Europe. The aim of the analysis is to delve more into the way this site is organized, its main values and features.

The first aspect that can be observed while looking at the platform is also the fact that it actually presents itself as more of a network with the aim of creating that sort of more familiarized network, also targeted more at giving personal advice and possible concrete directions. The platform presents different points where there can be offered direct help. It’s interesting to see the fact that the platform does present a solid support which is aimed at better explaining all the elements and opportunities that the portal may offer. It does present significant advice when it comes to application procedures and eventually further details about studying abroad or moving abroad. It’s important to see the fact that the platform does offer that continuous support and guidance.

The site is structured as a searchable database, which gives the possibility to find different opportunities about the field of study, which may be filtered based on the preferred destination, at the same time there are different other filters such as the duration of the whole program and then the funding sources available. These filters are actually really important because of the fact that it wants to avoid the continuous and untargeted scrolling through many other irrelevant opportunities. The fact that it offers the possibility to search for mobility programs based on the different scholarship options also makes it easier.

There’s always the possibility to go through personalized advice offered by the people spread across different points, people who truly listen each point of view and then try to adapt the solutions to somebody’s specific needs. This is a fundamental point especially when the details about the application may be quite unclear or testimonials from other people who have applied before may actually play an important role. For a student who studies European affairs like me, it’s always important to look for possible ways to gain that experience in the field. The visitors of the site are actually given the opportunity to apply for interesting positions in EU affairs, international relations and other policy-related departments. The entities are not always EU institutions but can also be other international organizations as well as significant policy think tanks in the field. The directions offered by the personalized guidance are also widely discussed and proposed in the many workshops and other networking events that they offer. For someone with no experience it may be quite challenging to write that cv and cover letter, so these workshops truly offer the right advice and suggestions to continuously improve it. It is also remarkable the opportunity offered when it comes to directly connect with EU professionals and getting to better know them through valuable stories and insights.

I think that what I really liked also about this platform is the way they listed their principles, in an eye-catching and interesting way, so that the visitor may better remember them. The portal has different key principles which really stood out to me.

First of all, there’s a significant presence of experts in the domain, which is actually very important. It’s important to know the fact that the answers we are getting are coming from people with experience in these EU opportunities, and then once again underlies their trustworthiness. It’s important at this stage to get reliable guidance about the possible next stages we may take.

Another important point is the fact that the portal itself offers free services, which is an invaluable asset and tool. It’s important to rely on efficient resources, without necessarily spending a lot of money, on information which should be available without any costs. So it’s another important feature which makes this site once again very accessible.

An aspect which I’ve appreciated a lot is the fact that the Eurodesk platform actually is targeted at responding to everyone’s specific needs, and trained to give very specific responses. And that’s for sure very important, since each one of us aims at not only getting general information but also tailored guidance and further suggestions about how to increase the chance of getting any internship. And here this aspect plays a fundamental role, since the students have the feeling of having a personal mentor truly invested in the person’s cause.

The information provided in unfiltered, as to make sure that I know for sure that I’m not getting any kind of biased advice, and can actually rely on reliable information, based on real sources and without any kind of hidden directions.

There’s then another significant aspect, which is the fact that the platform actually gives the possibility to know more information about the programs that actually offer financial support, as in any kind of grants or stipends. In this way the students may feel better knowing that there are actually programs out there that may ease the financial burden and therefore be more accessible for everybody. This way there are less and less obstacles when it comes to pursue the career and experiences we want.

Another important aspect is the fact that it actually relies on the connection with the other information services and making sure that we can expand our network also outside of the Eurodesk platform, making sure that we can take the most out of many other available experiences, possible through other partner organizations or other platforms.

I think it’s also important to point out the fact that the platform actually puts in direct contact the local and other regional opportunities available in the areas and kind of makes them accessible on the European level. At the same time it is possible to get in contact with responsible persons from other smaller and more local programs, which actually aims at offering that kind of more extended inclusion and raise the interest for more local experiences. It’s important to see how all these smaller programs are still part of the bigger European picture, and the wider European network, which actually connects to the EU policies and opportunities.

The final key point which is valuable when it comes to choose these programs, is the fact that the interested students have the possibility to read the shared real stories and the testimonials of the people who have already taken part in the different opportunities. It can be very helpful when trying to understand the ups and downs of similar opportunities and if the program does really achieve its amin target.

I found it really interesting to analyse the Eurodesk platform, which presents more itself as a very active and extended network, in which the people can navigate in order to go through all the available opportunities in Europe, it provides interesting resources of information, as well as valuable connections, designed and adapted on everybody’s needs. It’s very important the continuous support it offers, with the aim to improve the way we are open to new opportunities and the way we apply in order to get better chances at improving the career path, making it possible to become more active participants in the European affairs.