About IAESTE a.s.b.l.

IAESTE (The International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience) is an independent, non-profit and non-political student exchange Organisation. It provides students of science, engineering, technology and the applied arts with paid, course-related, technical training abroad.

Since it was founded in 1948, IAESTE has exchanged more than 330 000 students and has developed into a vibrant and inspirational network of over 80 countries. IAESTE aims to operate a high quality practical training exchange programme in order to enhance technical and professional development and to promote international understanding and goodwill amongst Students, Academic Institutions, Employers and the wider community.

Facts about IAESTE

• 59 full members
• 6 associate members
• 21 Co-operating institutions in 18 countries
• 88 offices in 83 country
• 317 436 Trainee exchanges have taken place
• 5,000 traineeship places per year on average
• 3726 participating companies (‘09)
• 958 participating Educational institutions (‘09)
• 62 Annual conferences
• 61 years of existence

• History
• Network
• Structure
• Annual Review

History

IAESTE, the International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience was founded in 1948 by ten countries. The idea behind it was to rebuild relationships between the countries after WW2 by sharing practical, useful experiences and creating a greater understanding of other countries and cultures, possibly to prevent another war happening again.

Founding Members: Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Finland, France, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom.

The Association became a registered body in Luxemburg, according to Luxembourg law at its General Conference 2005 in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia. Since then, the official name is: IAESTE A.s.b.l.

Since then, the association has grown to include more than 80 countries world-wide and has exchanged in excess of 300,000 students, playing a key role in the development of engineers and scientists able to make their mark in a global economy. 5'000 students, 4'000 companies and 1'200 universities take part in the exchange programme on an annual basis.

IAESTE AIMS

• To provide students in higher education with technical experience relevant to their studies
• To offer employers well-qualified and motivated trainees
• To be a source of cultural enrichment for trainees and their host communities

IAESTE operates irrespective of race, color, sex or creed.

Network

IAESTE has 88 offices in 81 country:
Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Colombia, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Irak, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Korea, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macao, Macedonia, Malta, Mexico, Mongolia, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Uruguay, USA, Uzbekistan, Vietnam

Contact details and more information about IAESTE countries can be found on www.iaeste.org

Structure

General Conference

The General Conference possesses full power to take formal decisions for the fulfillment of the Aims and approves the budget and regulations of the Association. It is composed of one delegate from each Full Member country. It elects the Board and the General Secretary and meets every year in January.

Board

The Board implements the Association's policy and decisions approved by the General Conference, initiates activities supporting the Association's policy in general and is responsible for the day to day management of the Association executed by the General Secretary. It is composed of the General Secretary and four elected members.

General Secretary

The General Secretary is elected by the Members to co-ordinate the daily administration of the Association and is a Member of the Board.

National Committee

National Committees represent the Member countries and are composed of persons representing academic, industrial and student interests.

Annual Reviews

The Annual reviews of IAESTE International can be found here.