TRAINEESHIPS ABROAD

The Erasmus + program provides for a traineeship in a company or in any other suitable job, which young graduates can undertake for a period of 12 months after graduation in one of the countries participating in the Erasmus + program.

The participating countries are the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Serbia, Northern Macedonia, Norway and Turkey.

The objectives of such mobility are:

• improved learning outcomes;
• better employability and career prospects;
• enhanced self-initiative and entrepreneurship
• greater independence and self-confidence;
• improved foreign language skills;
• improved intercultural awareness;
• more active participation in society;
• increased awareness of the European project and EU values;
• greater motivation to participate in future (formal/non-formal) education or training after a period of mobility abroad.

The participating countries are the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Serbia, Northern Macedonia, Norway and Turkey.

Mobility CAN be done at a public or private organization active in the labor market or in the field of education, training and youth. Such an organization could be, for example:

• public or private small, medium or large enterprise (including social enterprise);
• a public authority at local, regional or national level;
• the social partner or other representative of the world of work, including chambers of commerce, craft/professional associations, and trade unions;
• research institute;
• foundation;
• school/institution/education center (at all levels from pre-school to secondary, including vocational and adult education);
• non-profit organization, association, non-governmental organization;
• an institution providing vocational guidance, counseling and information services;
• a higher education institution (university) participating in the Erasmus+ program.

The student must find a company or institution where he/she will do his/her Erasmus+ internship and agree with its representative on the start of the internship.

When looking for an organization for an Erasmus+ placement, you can use different websites where professional training opportunities abroad are published:

• Internship with Erasmus
• Garage Erasmus
• JOE+
• Praxis
• EURES
• Studying-in-Spain.com

The following can apply for the tender:

• UNM students who have active student status at the UNM home faculty for the entire duration of practical training abroad and
• UNM graduate students who are applying in their final year of study or during their studies (if they still have active student status) and who will complete the practical training after graduation, but no later than 12 months after graduation or by the end of the eligible period, which is May 31, 2024.

Students may not engage in mobility activities in the country of the sending institution, the country in which they reside during their studies, the country of their residence, the country of their birth, or the country of which they are a national.

Students who have not yet benefited from 12 months of Erasmus LLP, Erasmus Mundus and Erasmus+ exchange during their studies at the same level (including participation in Erasmus+ mobility between program and (non-European) partner countries - International Credit Mobility). The total amount of studies and internships already completed and the internship period applied for must not exceed 12 months per individual level of study.

These rules also apply to students without an Erasmus grant (i.e. zero grant students).

The professional traineeship abroad under the Erasmus+ program must be related in content to the field of student study, as it is a professional traineeship abroad, which the student, the faculty mentor and the Erasmus+ faculty coordinator guarantee by signing the document "Learning Agreement for Traineeship". An Erasmus coordinator at the home faculty cannot be a mentor at the same time. It is recommended that the professional training be an integral part of the student's study program whenever possible.

Upon completion, the student's professional training at the UNM home faculty must be recognized at a minimum by entry in the Diploma Supplement.

The student must remain in the location where he/she is performing the mobility abroad for the entire duration of the professional traineeship. 

MOBILITY PERIOD

The duration of practical training is limited to a minimum of 2 months (minimum 60 days) and a maximum of 12 months. The student can benefit from Erasmus+ student status and receive an Erasmus+ grant for a mobility period of maximum 12 months at any level of study, regardless of the number or type of mobility activities.

The travel time according to the program conditions cannot be included in the duration of the period for which the student is entitled to a financial grant.

The mobility period can be carried out during the first, second and third level studies or within a maximum of 12 months after the completion of the studies.

Students are encouraged to record the completed mobility period in their CV.

ERASMUS+ GRANT

The Erasmus+ grant is intended to cover travel and living expenses abroad. An Erasmus student is not automatically eligible for an Erasmus+ grant, but must apply for an Erasmus grant according to the current call for applications.

The Erasmus+ grant only serves to co-finance the costs of the stay abroad and does not cover the full costs.

Deadline for submitting an Erasmus+ grant application: 30 days before the start of the participant's mobility period.

• THE DATE OF START OF THE ERASMUS ACTIVITY (which the student must indicate in the application and in the grant proposal) is the first day on which the student must be present at the host institution. This may be, for example, the date of the start of the first course, a welcome event organized by the host institution, or a language and intercultural course.
• THE DATE OF COMPLETION OF THE ERASMUS ACTIVITY (which the student must indicate in the application and in the financial aid application) is the last day on which the student must be present at the host institution. For example, this may be the last day of the exam period/lectures/work/attendance requirement.
• TRAVEL TIME cannot be included in the duration of the period for which the student is eligible for a financial grant, except in the case of green travel, in accordance with the program terms and conditions.

In accordance with the Guide for Applicants and the Guide for National Agencies, and with the agreement of the European Commission and the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport, the National Agency CMEPIUS has established the amount of grants for individuals under Erasmus + as follows.

The amounts of the Erasmus grant for the academic year 2022/2023 for each group of countries are:

ADDITIONAL GRANTS

Students and recent graduates on traineeships - top-up amount to the individual support
Students and recent graduates carrying out traineeships will receive an additional top-up amount to the individual support of the EU Erasmus+ grant with an amount of 150 EUR per month.

Students and recent graduates with fewer opportunities
Students and recent graduates with fewer opportunities receive a top-up amount to the individual support of their EU Erasmus+ grant with an amount of 250 EUR per month. The criteria to be applied are defined at national level by the National Agencies in agreement with National Authorities.

A student is entitled to the additional grant if the student himself or a member of a joint household receives any of the following social entitlements:

• state scholarship,
• protective allowance, child support,
• social assistance or
• aid for large families.

If the CSD notice is not issued in the student's name, the student must attach to the CSD notice a "Certificate from Household Records" showing that the student lives in a joint household with an individual who is entitled to one of the social entitlements. An individual may apply for the issuance of a household certificate at any administrative unit or local office on the territory of the Republic of Slovenia in person or through the unified state portal e-uprava with a qualified digital certificate. Family members are persons living in a common household.

This additional scholarship is granted to the student only if funds are still available on the day of receipt of the student's complete application.

Support for the inclusion of participants with special needs (PP)
Students with special needs who are awarded an Erasmus grant can apply for additional Erasmus+ funding.

Under the Erasmus + program, participants with special needs are entitled to special treatment, not only in setting the conditions for co-funding, but also in providing and comprehensive support in deciding on mobility, accompaniment during mobility and integration after return. Persons with special needs include those who need to undertake programs with additional professional support or adjustments according to the nature of the specific special need.

An Erasmus+ mobility participant with special needs submits an application on the prescribed form together with the required attachments to the International Office of the University of Novo mesto.

Additional funding for participants with special needs is based on actual costs, which must be supported by invoices. 100% of the actual eligible costs incurred will be reimbursed.

Green travel grant

Green travel refers to travel that uses low-emission vehicles such as busses, trains, or car sharing for the majority of the trip.

A declaration of honor signed by the person receiving the travel grant and the sending organization is considered proof of the use of sustainable transportation.

A one-time supplement to the individual green travel support is 50 EUR + up to 4 additional days for the trip.

OTHER FINANCIAL PROVISIONS
After receiving funding from the National Agency, the University of Novo mesto sends students who are admitted by the faculties for Erasmus studies in the academic year 2022/2023 and who submit a full application for an Erasmus+ grant to sign a grant agreement, which specifies the rights and obligations. Students will receive the agreements at the earliest one month before the scheduled start of the Erasmus activities abroad.

The University of Novo mesto is obliged to pay only the funds it receives from the National Agency CMEPIUS or the European Commission.

Online Linguistic Support (OLS) offers online language tests and language courses for Erasmus+ mobility participants, enabling students to improve their knowledge of the languages they will use during their studies.

The first OLS test within the new program period is mandatory for all students going on mobility for more than 14 days.

What is OLS?
Online Linguistic Support (OLS) is a free online language learning platform for participants in Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Unit. OLS allows you to check your current level of proficiency in the language you will be using abroad. The results will not prevent you from participating in Erasmus+ or European Solidarity Unit mobility, but will give you access to OLS language courses! Students have the opportunity to participate in OLS language courses in their own mobility language and in the official language of the country, if available through the online language support.

What does it offer?
OLS complements face-to-face classes and allows you to improve your language skills outside the classroom. It offers a series of interactive and engaging language learning activities that help participants learn a new language or master a language they already know. The best part is that it is specifically designed for the needs of each participant. This means you can have a unique learning experience.

Using the new OLS is very simple, participants click HERE to get started. The first step is to log into the EU login account.

You can find out more about this online language tool on the EU Academy page.

• Application form for traineeship abroad
• Learning Agreement Student mobilitiy for Traineeship
• Learning Agreement Guidelines
• Application for a financial grant
• Application for additional funds (PP)
• Erasmus + Student Charter
• Green Erasmus+ leaflet
• Declaration of Honour - Green traveling

Useful links:

• Erasmus Students Network (ESN)
• Mobile application: Erasmus+ App

OPEN CALL FOR TENDER:

• Call for co-financing of student mobility for the purpose of traineeship abroad (academic year 2023/2024).

EXPIRED TENDERS:

• Call for co-financing of student mobility for the purpose of traineeship abroad (academic year 2022/2023).

Can I apply for an Erasmus+ study exchange if I am working alongside my studies?
Students who are employed alongside their studies can only apply if their employer does not cover the costs based on the travel order issued during the duration of the study exchange.

I graduated in April. Can I still apply for an internship?
Students have the right to complete an internship even one year after their graduation date. In this case, all students (despite graduation) have a valid status until September 30 of that year, so they can apply to the faculty until the status expires. However, you must know that one year (in this case) expires in April of the following year and the months for the internship already start counting.

Can I apply for an internship if I know I will graduate later and lose my status in the meantime?
You must apply for the internship whenever you still have a valid status, which is by September 30 of the year. However, you must also have a valid status during the internship or you will not be able to do the internship.
If you lose your status because you only need a diploma and you know you will graduate in a few months, you must apply for the traineeship by the end of September and plan the traineeship activities during the period you will be a young graduate.

What do I do if my internship date is postponed and I have already submitted certified documents?
If the date changes before the start of the mobility and you have not yet received a contract from the university (even if you have one, we would finalise a new one), you must go to the International Office (K11) in person to confirm the changes and include the mail as written proof of the other arrangement.
However, if you are already in the mobility programme and there is a discrepancy in the implementation of the mobility programme, you have the option to either extend the internship (we will send you a new contract, which you will sign accordingly) - or your original schedule will be recognised and you will not be eligible for Erasmus for the remainder of the traineeship grants.

I took the OLS language course for the first mobility, do I have to repeat it for each subsequent mobility?
A language course is a mandatory part of your mobility, so you have to take it for each new mobility. Even if the same language is always selected, you will have to take it again and again.

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS OFFICE

Sabina Krsnik, MBA
Coordinator of international mobility

Telephone
+386 7 393 00 21

E-mail:
international.office@uni-nm.si