Expertise in Labour Mobility

EGM Split 2026 | Morning Plenary Session
2026-04-17 10:30 - 11:05 (Europe/Amsterdam) | University of Split
Join Olga O’Sullivan (University of Limerick), Nathan Lusseau (ESN), and Nannette Ripmeester (Director, Expertise in Labour Mobility) for the EGM morning plenary session, guided by Tajana Mohnacki (Global Networks and Projects Assistant at University College Dublin) and moderated by Brikena Xhomaqi (Lifelong Learning Platform) on the 17th of April 2026 at 10:30 – 11:05 at Arena Gripe..
The fifth edition of the Erasmus Generation Meeting, Europe’s largest student-led conference on the Internationalisation of Higher Education, focuses on Shaping Skills through Student Mobility. The event amplifies the Erasmus Generation’s role in shaping how competences are built through volunteering and student-led mobility, while advancing the impact and recognition of student engagement among key stakeholders. EGM 2026 will be held from the 16th to the 19th of April 2026 at the University of Split, Croatia.
With the central theme of “Port of Mobility – Gateway to Skills”, this unique event will focuse on the development of skills through student mobility. The programme includes lectures, panel discussions, workshops and an EXPO exhibition, where institutions and organisations will have the opportunity to present their work to young people interested in international mobility, education and skills development.
More about the session:
The Friday morning plenary of the Erasmus Generation Meeting 2026 focuses on international mobility and the different pathways through which students experience Erasmus+. In the context of Europe’s ambition to build a Union of Skills, the session aims to highlight how mobility opportunities contribute to the development of competences, shape students’ perspectives and personal growth, and strengthen the connection between higher education and the labour market.
Within this framework, the panel discussion will focus specifically on traineeships as an important component ofthe Erasmus+ mobility experience. Traineeships offer students the opportunity to complement their academic mobility with practical experience, thereby developing professional and transversal competences while gaining exposure to international working environments.
The objective of this discussion is to explore how traineeships support students’ learning journeys and professional developmentthrough mobility, and how these experiences help translate international mobility into concrete career opportunities. The panel aims to highlight the value of traineeships within the broader Erasmus+ ecosystem, while reflecting on how skills gained through mobility can be better recognised and connected to students’ future professional pathways. It will also specifically address what actually makes a high-quality traineeship, as well as measures that can be implemented to ensure this is the experience of all Erasmus+ trainees.
More information can be found here.

EGM Split 2026 | The Future of Erasmus+ traineeships: what comes next (location A1-1)
2026-04-17 14:30 - 2026-04-20 15:30 | University of Split
Join Wim Gabriels (ESN), Denisa Bulza (UVT), Charles de Groot (EUF), and Nannette Ripmeester (ELM) for their EGM session about “The Future of Erasmus+ traineeships: what comes next” on the 17th of April 2026 at 14:30 – 15:30.
The fifth edition of the Erasmus Generation Meeting, Europe’s largest student-led conference on the Internationalisation of Higher Education, focuses on Shaping Skills through Student Mobility. The event amplifies the Erasmus Generation’s role in shaping how competences are built through volunteering and student-led mobility, while advancing the impact and recognition of student engagement among key stakeholders. EGM 2026 will be held from the 16th to the 19th of April 2026 at the University of Split, Croatia.
More about the session:
Explore the future of Erasmus+ Traineeships and the challenges students face when transitioning from education to the world of work. This interactive session will feature insights from European Commission sponsored DETAS project on improving traineeship quality, including perspectives from students, HEIs, and companies, and a showcase of the new Erasmus Intern job position finder. Participants will engage directly via SLIDO, shaping the discussion with their questions and feedback. Key takeaways from project partners will close the session, highlighting actionable insights for enhancing international traineeship opportunities.
More information can be found here.

EGM Split 2026 | Unpacking the digitalisation of Erasmus traineeship application & support (location F401)
2026-04-17 15:00 - 16:30 | University of Split
Join Sabri Ben Rommane (ESN), Erika Maria Rodriguez Somlyay (LLLP), Anna Sijbrands (ELM), Alexandru Dobrescu (UVT), and Olga O’Sullivan (UL-IE) for the session about “Unpacking the digitalisation of Erasmus traineeship application & support” on the 17th of April 2026 at 15:00 – 16:30.
The fifth edition of the Erasmus Generation Meeting, Europe’s largest student-led conference on the Internationalisation of Higher Education, focuses on Shaping Skills through Student Mobility. The event amplifies the Erasmus Generation’s role in shaping how competences are built through volunteering and student-led mobility, while advancing the impact and recognition of student engagement among key stakeholders. EGM 2026 will be held from the 16th to the 19th of April 2026 at the University of Split, Croatia.
More about the session:
This session focuses on the challenges students face when transitioning from academia to the workplace, particularly in finding high-quality traineeships. Through a fun and interactive Shark Tank-style activity, participants will explore the work of the European Commission sponsored DETAS project and learn about its Quality Labels. By the end of the session, they will have a broader understanding of traineeship challenges, be familiar with the new Erasmus Intern website, and have practised their creativity, communication, and pitching skills.
More information can be found here.

IIC Plenary Session: ¡Vámonos! - Career Readiness at the Speed of Change
2026-06-09 09:15 - 10:15 | Universidad Camilo José Cela
Join Dr. Maureen Manning, and Nannette Ripmeester (Director, Expertise in Labour Mobility) for the IIC plenary session about “¡Vámonos! – Career Readiness at the Speed of Change” on June 9th at 9:15 – 10:15AM at the Universidad Camilo José Cela on the Castellana Campus in Madrid, Spain.
The International Internship Conference (IIC) is an annual event which gathers a collaborative community of program providers, universities & colleges, employers, governments and students. IIC aims to foster and promote best practices, professional development, diversity, equity & inclusion, and partnership in the field of International Internships.
More about the session:
¡Vámonos! is a call to action. In urgent times shaped by geopolitical volatility, labor market disruption, and widening inequities in access to opportunity, career readiness must be understood not as an employability checklist, but as a strategic and moral mandate for higher education. This opening plenary convenes cross-sector leaders to examine what career readiness demands in the current global landscape, and why experiential education, internships, and work-integrated learning are no longer enrichment. They are necessary infrastructure.

Together, panelists will explore how institutions and partners can move from isolated excellence to collective transformation, aligning learning with real-world complexity, preparing students for uncertainty, and strengthening professional identity, adaptability, intercultural agility, and civic responsibility. The question is no longer how students access work-integrated learning. The question is whether our systems will move quickly enough to meet the moment.
More information can be found here.

EAIE 2026 GLASGOW | THE RHYTHM OF REVOLUTION
2026-09-10 11:30 - 2026-09-13 12:30 | Glasgow, Scotland
Join Adriana Perez Encinas (Universidad Autónoma de Madrid), Marco Comotti (ESN), Wim Gabriels (ESN) and Nannette Ripmeester (Expertise in Labour Mobility, Etio) for their session about “Skills unlocked: Gamifying competence recognition” on September 10th at 11:30AM – 12.30AM in Glasgow.
Session description:
How can we ensure that international experiences translate into recognised, employable skills? This interactive session will showcase innovative tools and approaches to identify, assess and communicate competencies gained through mobility. Drawing on a gamification activity developed for students to reflect on their goals during their mobility experience, we will discuss how to strengthen the recognition of transversal and global competencies.
The European Association for International Education (EAIE) 2026 conference scheduled on September 8-11th will highlight the rhythm of revolution – a call to question, collaborate and create lasting change. Set against the backdrop of a city that lives and breathes reinvention, this conference invites bold thinkers and changemakers to step forward and shape the future of our field. For more information on the EAIE conference, click here.

CIGL Lisbon 2026 | Framework First: Competency Models for Global Learning
2026-10-12 11:45 - 12:45 | Reitoria da Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal
Join Kate Moore (Principal and Founder, Global Career Centre) and Nannette Ripmeester (Director, Expertise in Labour Mobility/etio) for their session about “Framework First: Competency Models for Global Learning” on October 12th 2026, at 10:45 – 11:15 AM WEST (11:45 – 12:45 CET) at Reitoria da Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal.
Session description:
This session examines competency frameworks across multiple domains—professional development,
intercultural awareness, geographic contexts, and industry-specific applications—and demonstrates their practical use in global learning.
The content emphasizes a key principle: using a structured framework matters more than selecting a specific model. Participants learn to evaluate diverse competency frameworks based on their professional context, then apply them confidently across program development, coaching, and assessment. The session includes interactive exercises to identify relevant competencies, examples from different contexts, and practical application strategies. This approach addresses the growing need to demonstrate ROI and relevance in competency-based terms. Rather than prescribing a single solution, the session aims to equip participants as they select and implement frameworks appropriate to their institutional needs and professional goals.
The Forum’s Careers, Internships, and Global Learning (CIGL) conference scheduled on October 11-13th will will bring together leaders in career services, international education, and industry to reimagine how we prepare students for a rapidly evolving global workforce. Additionally, this conference will explore how immersive international experiences cultivate career readiness and spark innovation. For more information on the CIGL conference, click here.
