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IAESTE ANNUAL REVIEW 2009
Figure 11 Categories of Offers
4000
3500
3316
3676
Traineeships
3000
Offered
Used
2500
2000
2127 2147
1500
1000
500
0
422
227
177
78
R&D Professional Working Environment Non-Specific
9
In 2008 a total of 7591 training places were reported to be
available as follows: Research and Development (D) 3316,
43.6%, Professional (P) 3676, 48.4.%, Working Environment
(W) 422, 5.6% and Non-specific (X) 177, 2.3%. The percentage
of Offers used as reported by the Members and Co-operating
Institutions by category of the available Offers were (D) 64.1%
(P) 58.4%, (W) 53.8% and (X) 44%. Figure 11
The bulk of the Offers are in the Research and Development and
Professional areas and students favour these training places
that are more in line with academic requirements. In many
instances such training is a required part of the curriculum. The
Working Environment (W) Offers are valued for higher pay and
the opportunities they provide to experience working conditions
in industry in other countries. In 2008 there was an increase in
the number of available Working Environment Offers.
Returned Offers and cancellations
This continues to be one of our major problem areas. Despite the
efforts made to date to minimise losses, the number of training
places lost or unused remains unacceptably high. Based on the
figures reported, the number of lost and unused training Offers in
2008 amounted to 2984, 39.4% of the Offers received. Employer
withdrawals accounted for 15.9% and Student withdrawals were
8%.
In 2008 individual figures show that 6 Members and Co-operating
Institutions managed to maintain their total losses below 20%
which shows how hard it became in the middle of the year
due to the global financial crisis and these countries are to be
congratulated.
IAESTE Members and Co-operating Institutions must continue
to make every effort to minimise these losses, particularly the
Offers that remain unused. Improvements here would result in
the release of additional available places. This should encourage
all countries to seek improvements to their existing practices
and to examine their communication arrangements. Accurate
and timely communications should help reduce Student and
Employer withdrawals and accurate matching of the student skills
with those required by the Employer would further contribute to
minimising the withdrawal of Offers by Employers.
The year round exchange facilitated by the IAESTE IntraWeb now
provides the platform for the quick and accurate exchange of
placements between Members and Co-operating Institutions for
new and unused Offers and also nominations for these places.
This must contribute to the effective use of all Offers both new
and unused, as they become available throughout the year.