EMPLOI is the new name for the Professional Section you once knew as ‘Stage, Work placement and INternships Group’, or ‘SWING’, which started in 1995. The name change reflects a broader remit, representing the needs, interests and expertise of our members more accurately.

The aim of SWING was to support stage-coordinators to work in their fields, to offer new practitioners as well as senior professionals new input and the possibility to exchange ideas, on how to put students in touch with company representatives, and on best practice in different companies when it came to work placements.

SWING organised sessions about risk management during stages, how to find and keep contact with companies, how to network, intercultural aspects with topics like “handicapped students working as a trainee”, workshops on quality in international work placements, but no training courses.

We flagged sessions on foreign languages with LILO and worked with EEPC (those sections merged to become MOPILE). The LEONET network also helped us to identify speakers in sessions which were about the LEONARDO programmes. In those days ERASMUS belonged to EEPC.

A LEONARDO network in France with a number of partners in other countries explained how to network with companies in a sustainable way. In that period Central and Eastern Europe opened up, which presented new challenges and to help we took one staff on board from Poland.

After a certain time Marjo became chair, which was a big advantage because she was also on the board of LEONET with Bruno. Because of Kirsten’s involvement and the successful training we organised in 2008 ‘Managing a Careers Service’, the orientation turned to a greater extent towards career services, career advising and the international labour market which is a very good development, because these were the underlying themes linked to the other activities of our section. As a consequence the name EMPLOI was created.