Erasmus student-led consortium publishes toolkit to improve traineeship experience

A consortium led by the Erasmus Student Network (ESN) has published a practical toolkit for European higher-education institutions to help them improve students' Erasmus+ traineeship experience.

Published in April 2026, the practical guide is designed to help HEIs support students during the stages of their move abroad including pre-departure support, monitoring during the placement, and evaluation upon their return.

The document shows that Erasmus+ traineeships - an opportunity for higher education students to undertake a 2-12-month international work placement in another country - present challenges on several levels: students face obstacles relating to access to opportunities, the complexity of the application process, integrating into the workplace, financial constraints despite grants, etc.

At the same time, institutions must manage the implementation of programmes, heavy administrative burdens and, at times, inconsistent support for students before, during and after the placement.

The toolkit offers recommendations at all levels. Before departure, higher education institutions…