IAESTE in general

IAESTE in a nutshell

• Worldwide trainee exchange
• Approximately 80 member countries
• IAESTE Germany is part of the DAAD
• Every year about 1200 internship exchanges for Germany
• The service in the receiving universities is offered mostly by voluntary students
• Number of internships offered = Number of internships received

What is IAESTE ? The International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience (IAESTE)  is an international, nonpolitical, independent organization organizing internships abroad. IAESTE history IAESTE was founded in 1948 in London and has so far sent more than 300 000 students to over 85 countries. Germany is a member of the IAESTE program since 1950. It is represented by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).

Structure of the IAESTE organization

In every member country there is a national committee (NC) and several local committees (LC) at the universities. In Germany the national committee is represented by a department of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). IAESTE is supported by the The Federal Ministry of Education and Research and The Federal Foreign Office. The local committees consist of committed students of the particular university. Where this is not possible, the international offices  takes care of the assignments of IAESTE.

Assignments of IAESTE

For one thing, the local committees (LC) receive the applications of the German students for internships abroad. These internships, usually from 8 to 12 weeks, will be arranged free of charge. Additionally the LCs support the foreign trainees in their City. This includes for example finding accommodation, dealing with the authorities and social program to get to know the receiving country.

Aim of IAESTE

IAESTE internships offer students a better practical relevance to students of engineering, science, agriculture and forestry. Furthermore they are an opportunity to get an insight to the life, the culture and the way of thinking of other cultures and people.