Italy
participants
The goal of the activity was to empower volunteers from the Central Italy area by providing training in low to mid-level organizational management. Specifically, the school aimed to bridge the gap between institutional knowledge and professional practice in the fields of Human Resources and Treasury, ensuring that local boards had the technical tools to manage their sections effectively, transparently, and sustainably. Furthermore, there was a focus on the possibilities to enter the workforce through institutional curricular internship using various EU programs such as the Erasmus Traineeship.
The activity was designed as an intensive training event targeting the volunteers of the sections involved in the "Pe.Ro.Ni." Coordinament: ESN Roma ASE, ESN Roma LUISS, ESN Roma Tre, and ESN Perugia. The program focused on two pillars essential for the professional management of a non-profit association: HR management—focusing on recruitment, motivation, and internal communication—and Treasury, covering financial reporting, budgeting, and fundraising strategies.
The training was delivered through a series of interactive workshops and peer-to-peer sessions, where experienced members shared best practices and case studies. By simulating real-world scenarios, participants were able to apply technical notions of financial auditing and human capital management directly to the daily operations of an ESN section. Beyond the technical sessions, the activity served as a vital platform for coordination between the three Roman sections and the Perugia section, allowing for the members to get to know each other better and to transfer knowledge and personal experiences. The schedule balanced these technical modules with dedicated networking moments, designed to strengthen the bond between different local boards and foster a collaborative spirit within the Coordinament.
Moreover, there were a couple of sessions which focused on Erasmus+ Trainesheep and beyond.
In the first one, we took a deep dive straight into Erasmus+ Traineeship. We broke the ice by asking who knew they could do an Erasmus even after graduating. We laid out the key difference: here, you’re working, not taking exams, and usually getting a higher grant than for Erasmus studies. We broke down the rules (2 to 12 months, for students and recent graduates within a year of their degree), how the Learning Agreement works, and most importantly, how to find one. The golden advice was: don’t wait for the university call, go hunting on portals like ErasmusIntern.org.
We showed them the official websites where to get further information, and browsed the ErasmusIntern.org platform together explaining that it is created and managed exactly by our association!
In the second workshop, we leveled up to talk about actual EU Careers. The focus here was on "top tier" traineeships within the European Institutions, like the Commission's Blue Book and the Parliament's Schuman. We gave an overview of what they pay, who can apply (you need at least a Bachelor's), and where to look (the EPSO portal and individual agency websites). The session wrapped with an interactive "Knowledge Hub": we split the room in groups, gave them a “student’s profile” and made them choose their future paths with all the traineeship we talked about before. The participants were given a QR code with all the life-saving links and a clear message: Erasmus+ Traineeship is the perfect bridge to get to Brussels.
Outcomes
The activity successfully taught standardized procedures across the involved sections, particularly regarding financial transparency and member gaining and retention. Participants gained specific, "spendable" skills in HR and Treasury that improved the quality of their local work. Furthermore, the School solidified the cooperation between the Roman and Umbrian sections, creating a stronger, more integrated network capable of launching joint initiatives and supporting each other’s growth.
Regarding the traineeship sessions, participants acquired an understanding of the Erasmus+ Traineeship framework, including eligibility for recent graduates and how the Learning Agreement works. They developed proactive job-hunting skills by learning to navigate the ErasmusIntern.org platform and other institutional portals. Additionally, the volunteers gained insights into EU career paths, such as the Blue Book and Schuman traineeships, mastering the specific requirements and application processes.
This activity is part of the project:
DETAS - Digitalising Erasmus Traineeship Application Support