Euskadi is bolstering its ranks of emerging professionals with 445 new global training scholarships for international training

• Basque Government pledges €6.45 million investment to boost young talent
• Since its inception in 2012, the Global Training programme has supported more than 5,000 young people in securing professional placements overseas.
• President Pradales: “The Basque Country will welcome you with open arms. Your knowledge, experience, and international learning will be key to taking the helm and leading the major transformations we face.”

The Basque Government has awarded Global Training scholarships to 445 young people enabling them to undertake internships overseas. Delivered by the Basque Internationalization Agency – Basque Trade & Investment part of the SPRI Group these placements are designed to drive international mobility. A university degree or advanced vocational training qualification is a prerequisite for eligibility. The budget for the Global Training Programme for the current financial year is €6.45 million.

The President of the Basque Country, Imanol Pradales, chaired the launch event this morning at the Euskalduna Conference Centre in Bilbao. He was joined by the Cabinet Secretary for Industry, Energy Transition and Sustainability, Mikel Jauregi; the Director General of Basque Trade & Investment, Nagore Bonilla; and representatives from partner organisations: the three Chambers of Commerce, Confebask, Adegi, Politeknika Ikastegia Txorierri, Hetel, Ikaslan, AFM Cluster, Fomento San Sebastián, Garapen, and the Novia Salcedo Foundation, alongside the University of the Basque Country (EHU), the University of Deusto, and Mondragon University.

The President stressed that "a country must nurture its talent pool.” “We will continue working to ensure that when you decide to return you will have greater opportunities to develop your talent and make your dreams a reality. This includes attractive advanced and motivating business projects. And greater access to housing, the best world-class healthcare system and top-tier education. The Basque Country will therefore welcome you with open arms. Your knowledge experience and international learning will be key to taking the helm and leading the major transformations we face” he emphasised.

The programme aligns with EU forecasts which anticipate that a growing percentage of jobs will require high level qualifications. Evidence suggests that a significant proportion of skills acquisition will occur through non formal experiences international mobility practical learning and active youth engagement.

Since its inception in 2012 the Global Training scholarships have supported more than 5,000 young people from the Basque Country. Over the past twelve editions participants have completed professional placements averaging eight months in over 500 companies and organisations across 60 countries on five continents. Host entities include the Fraunhofer Institute Microsoft Harvard Medical School and UN Women alongside Basque companies operating overseas.

This year's cohort maintains the same format and objectives as previous years aiming to facilitate the training and international mobility of young people from the Basque Country and support their entry into the labour market.

Minister Mikel Jauregi said: “You are the present and future of the Basque Country. I hope you seize this experience to grow as professionals and as individuals. Thanks to the Global Training initiative you are becoming ambassadors for the Basque Country on the global stage. You are young people with training with roots in the Basque Country and wings open to the world. Develop your talent and the Basque Government will continue working to ensure that upon your return you have jobs here with a future.”

The Global Training Programme provides an opportunity for young people to gain professional experience abroad through paid internships in companies or institutions aligned with their academic specialisation.

The scholarship programme’s objective is to facilitate the transfer of knowledge and skills acquired abroad back to the Basque Country. Additionally, the programme allows scholarship holders to extend their stays abroad, enabling them to contribute to the Basque economy from abroad.

Scholarship Conditions

This year's Global Training Scholarship Programme has been allocated a budget of:

• 445 places at a gross monthly rate of 1,715 euros for a period of six months, with an additional 80 euros allocated to cover Social Security contributions, the responsibility for which falls upon the grant holder.
• Management costs for each collaborating entity at a rate of 1,000 euros per place.
• Training expenses of 40 hours of training per scholarship holder.
• Item for insurance cover for scholarship holders, including travel and medical insurance.

The scholarships have a minimum duration of six months and a maximum of 12 months. Based on the offers received from our collaborating entities, we anticipate that the average duration will be approximately eight months, including extensions.

The programme is designed for young people with a higher education qualification (such as an undergraduate, postgraduate degree or vocational training) up to the age of 30, with a command of English at B1 and B2 levels.

Collaborating Entities

The Global Training Scholarships rely on the input of organisations with a proven track record in the management of this type of training and international mobility programmes.

This year’s collaborating entities include:

Partners work together to:

• Identify high quality training placements within international companies and institutions where young people can gain practical experience.
• Launch the call for applications and manage the selection process in collaboration with Basque Trade & Investment.
• Deliver preparatory training to equip young people for the international experience.
• Provide ongoing monitoring and support to scholarship recipients and host companies throughout the placement.
• The final report will evaluate the outcome of the scholarship holders' training and experiences.