Mobility specification

Country:Belgium

Institution:Zastúpenie Bratislavského samosprávneho kraja pri EÚ v Bruseli

City:Brussels

Program:Erasmus+ traineeship

Activity type:Traineeship

Academic year:2023/2024

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?Social sciences

💼How-to: Interning abroad

How did you discover this internship opportunity?External website

External website - which one?https://Euractive.com

Can you describe the role you held during your internship?Assistant.

What specific responsibilities and tasks did you do during your internship?- Preparation of background materials
- Participation in seminars, conferences, plenary sessions of the Committee of the Regions
- Preparation of briefing notes and accurate reports
- Preparation of the implementation of the operational programme within the new programming period 2021 - 2027 from the perspective of the Bratislava Self-Governing Region
- Communication through social media and website management

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?yes

If yes, can you provide a specific example?The theory on the European Committee of the Regions, multi-level governance and regional policy that I learned at school helped me to better understand the decision-making processes and communication between the different levels of government during my traineeship. A concrete example was when I was involved in the preparation of documents for a negotiation between regional actors and representatives of the European Union, where I used my knowledge of the structure of multilevel governance.

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?In order to attract the attention of the institution where I did my internship, I consider it crucial to prepare thoroughly for the interview, to get to know the activities and focus of the institution and to prepare a good cover letter that clearly explains why I am the right candidate. Equally important is to remain myself and show genuine interest and motivation.

How competitive was the selection process? Did you have to go through an application procedure?Yes, first I had to send a cover letter and CV in Slovak and English and after I was selected I had to go through an oral interview.

Why would you recommend students do an internship?I would recommend the internship because it is a unique opportunity to experience first-hand what it is like to become an "employee" for a period of time and to see the functioning of an organization on a practical level, not just from a theoretical perspective. The internship also offers the opportunity to meet new people and make valuable contacts. Last but not least, it allows you to step out of your comfort zone and gain new experiences.

💰And how to fund it?

What were your average monthly expenses during the internship?27500 CZK/month

Did the institution provide accommodation?no

If not, how did you find it?Through Facebook ads (beware of scammers). Finding accommodation is probably the most challenging process :D

Did you have any unexpected expenses during the internship?no

Do you have any tips on how to save money during the internship?There are various apps that offer big discounts on food close to the end of its warranty (Too Good to Go app).

🗺 Learn the ropes in a new city

How difficult was it for you to adjust to life abroad?no problem at all

How well did you manage to communicate in English?perfectly

How does public transport work in the city?neutral

And what about transport outside the city?neutral

Where to find connections? How to buy a ticket?I walked everywhere most of the time :D If I needed to get somewhere, I looked up the route on Google maps. Tickets for public transport could usually be bought at every bus stop. In Brussels, I recommend buying a recharge card (available at almost every metro or train station) that you can "tap" right on the bus.

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?The Atomium, Grand Place, Manneken Pis, Sainte-Catherine Square, Delirium, waffles (I recommend the ones from the toy car) or famous fries. Café Belga in the evening, Plux on Thursdays.

What are the must-visit trip destinations?Oostende (the sea), Bruges (a beautiful historic city), Ghent (student atmosphere) and Amsterdam or Paris.

Share your best experience:Everything was great ;) Probably the best part was when my best friend came over and we were able to go to Amsterdam, since it's only about 2 hours from Brussels.

💅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?Be prepared that if you're flying into Charleroi Airport, you may have to wait in a long queue for a bus to take you to Brussels.

Can you pay by card?everywhere

What not to forget when packing?Make sure you take a raincoat and lots of umbrellas as it rains all the time in Belgium, and don't forget your sos medication :D as Brussels is quite expensive.

🥳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?My trip was a great opportunity to gain practical experience in an area that interests me. I met new people, expanded my contacts and stepped out of my comfort zone, which gave me valuable experience.