Mobility specification

Country:Belgium

Institution:Kancelář Jihomoravského kraje pro meziregionální spolupráci

City:Brussels

Program:Erasmus+ traineeship

Activity type:Traineeship

Academic year:2024/2025

MU faculty/department:Faculty of Social Studies / Department of International Relations and European Studies

Study level abroad:Master

✅Check the boxes

How would you categorize your internship?Humanities
Social sciences

💼How-to: Interning abroad

How did you discover this internship opportunity?Other

Other - please specify:I actively searched for an internship on the internet.

Can you describe the role you held during your internship?Intern at the Representation of the South Moravian Region to the EU.

What specific responsibilities and tasks did you do during your internship?- participation in working meetings, conferences and workshops, from which I subsequently wrote reports
- day-to-day administration
- social media
- organising events for the public
-preparing documents for meetings and writing research papers

Did your tasks align with the pre-defined conditions?yes

Did the internship meet your expectations?yes

Did you apply any theory you learned at university during the internship?no

How well did you manage to communicate in a foreign language?perfectly

Did the institution have any special requirements?Specific language skills

Do you have tips on how to make a great impression on the institution?Know basic info about the South Moravian Region.

How competitive was the selection process? Did you have to go through an application procedure?Yes, there was a two-round selection process. The first part was a written test and then an oral interview with those selected.

Why would you recommend students do an internship?Supplement the theory you are taught at school with practical experience. You'll find out how the EU works, how regions promote their interests and get an idea of where you want to take your career. At the same time, because it is a regional representation and not a huge institution, you will have the opportunity to be involved in more things, represent the region on working groups and have more responsibility. You will also broaden your horizons about job opportunities in the South Moravian Region and gain valuable contacts.

💰And how to fund it?

What were your average monthly expenses during the internship?18000 CZK/month

Did the institution provide accommodation?no

If not, how did you find it?The institution did not provide me with accommodation, but they offered me tips on it, thanks to which my accommodation was arranged right away.

Did you have any unexpected expenses during the internship?no

Do you have any tips on how to save money during the internship?Cooking for yourself. You'll really save a lot by doing this. For shopping I recommend Lidl and Aldi. And for fruit and veg, I definitely recommend the Arab market on the Midi. It's an experience in itself, plus you can buy fruit and veg for a fraction of the price.

🗺 Learn the ropes in a new city

How difficult was it for you to adjust to life abroad?it was okay, but could have been better

How well did you manage to communicate in English?almost without problems

How does public transport work in the city?I've seen better

And what about transport outside the city?runs like clockwork

Where to find connections? How to buy a ticket?- Search for mhd connections via google maps, but beware, there are often strikes and public transport is not running. I had my public transport card reimbursed by the institution, but I arranged it myself at the "bootik" kiosk, where I presented my study certificate and ID photo.
- I searched for trains via belgiantrain.be. I always bought my tickets online. The advantage is that they are tied to a route and not to a specific time.

Did you deal with any health issues during your stay?no

🤠Help create the perfect bucket list

What is a must-see in the city?Parc du cinquantenaire

What are the must-visit trip destinations?Lovan

Share your best experience:Europe Day celebrations - EU institutions were open all day and there was a big party at the Grand Place in the evening.

💅A nugget of wisdom to make the life easier

Did you need to handle a visa?no

How did you get to the place?Plane

Is there anything to watch out for before the trip?There are two airports to Brussels - Brussels Airport, which is a 20-minute tram ride from the centre, and Charleroi, which costs significantly less, but is an hour from Brussels. At the airport, you can buy a ticket for the Flibco bus, which runs all the time, from a machine for €18, and you're at Brussels Midi station in an hour.

Can you pay by card?everywhere

What not to forget when packing?No stress, everything can be bought here.

🥳Summary

Whew, what a ride! 😮‍💨 Thanks so much for taking the time to complete our survey and for sharing your unique experience. Just one last thing. 🙏 How would you summarize your trip in one or two sentences?It was a great ride and one of the best decisions of my life.