ASEM Work Placement Programme

Description of the Initiative

The ASEM Work Placement (ASEM WPP) was proposed and agreed by the Ministers during the 3^rd Asia-Europe Meeting of Ministers for Education (ASEMME3) in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 2011. The ASEM Education Ministers felt that a work placement programme would provide students with the opportunity to discover the world of work in a different regional and cultural setting and gain some experience. The Chairs’ Conclusion of the ASEMME5 stated that the Ministers “Considered the establishment of an ASEM placement programme in terms of setting up a pilot scheme for higher education-business mobility of qualified students between Asia and Europe (partly funded by public resources and industry);”.

Aims and objectives

The programme aims to establish, promote and sustain the mutual exchange of interns between the regions Europe and Asia on the basis of balance and mutual benefits.

ASEM Partners and Stakeholders involved

Currently: Belgium (Flemish Community),

In the past: Brunei Darussalam, Germany, India, Indonesia, and Thailand.

Progress and Achievements

From a three-years pilot project (testing phase) to an established programme
Overseen by the ASEM Education Secretariat, in the past there was a Co-Secretariat by Belgium Flemish Community and Thailand
Documents and procedures for work placements are standardised
Webpage created:/www.asemwpp.org/
Promotion tools available (flyer)
Allocation of national scholarships
Stimulating mobility of trainees

Status

Partly completed and aims partly achieved; ongoing

Plans and expected outcomes

ASEMME7: Chair’s Conclusion 31

To continue improving procedures and documents
To increase work placements of students in Europe and Asia
To promote the programme to involve more countries and encourage more governments and business partners to participate and to allocate more funding for scholarships.