Euskadi is bolstering its ranks of emerging professionals with 500 new global training scholarships for international training

• The scholarship programme offers training and experience abroad in more than 400 top companies and organisations in 51 countries around the world to holders of scholarships under the age of 30. The average length of stay is 8 months.
• Since 2012, 5,088 young people have benefited from these grants, which represent a fundamental tool in the Basque Government's commitment to young talent.
• The Basque Country's internationalisation policy is built on three key pillars: the education and training of individuals, with the Global Training Grants programme; support for Basque companies in their international economic activity; and the Euskadi Foreign Network, which has a presence in 92 countries and 22 commercial offices.

The Basque Government, through the Basque Internationalisation Agency (Basque Trade & Investment of the SPRI Group), has recognised 500 young people for their participation in Global Training Grants for Business Internships Abroad. The objective of these grants is to facilitate international mobility. Applicants are required to possess a university degree or higher vocational training to qualify. The budget for the Global Training Programme for the current financial year is €6.45 million.

The President, Imanol Pradales, presided over the event, which was held at the Gipuzkoa Technology Park in Donostia. He was accompanied by the Regional Minister for Industry, Energy Transition and Sustainability, Mikel Jauregi, the Director General of Basque Trade & Investment, Nagore Bonilla, and representatives of the collaborating organisations: the three Chambers of Commerce, Confebask, Adegi, Politeknika Ikastegia Txorierri, Hetel, Ikaslan, AFM Cluster, Fomento San Sebastian, Garapen and the Novia Salcedo Foundation, as well as the UPV-EHU, the University of Deusto and Mondragon Unibertsitatea.

The certified young professionals will undertake internships with leading companies and organisations in over 400 locations across 51 countries on four continents. The list of participating organisations includes the Microsoft Institute, Harvard Medical School, UN Women and a number of leading research centres, as well as Basque companies with a presence in international markets that operate in sectors of strategic importance to the Basque Country.

As the President stated, “your time abroad will serve as an ambassador for us abroad. You will be our eyes. You will disseminate information and provide us with the chance to gain first-hand insight into the opportunities that emerge daily in various global locations. Young people are a key asset for the future of this country.”

The Global Training Scholarship Programme is one of the initiatives that form part of the strategy to develop the talent base required for the economic development of the Basque Country. In the current business environment, companies are seeking qualified individuals. This experience offers Basque youth the opportunity to develop the necessary skills and knowledge for professional performance in an international and multicultural setting. 

As Mikel Jauregi, Basque Councillor, stated, “the Basque Country is pursuing an increasingly intense internationalisation strategy. This strategy is structured on three pillars: training and qualification of people, with the Global Training Grants; support for Basque companies in their international economic activity; and the Euskadi Foreign Network, which is present in 92 countries, with 22 commercial offices of its own and a forthcoming opening in Australia at the end of the year, which will be the 23rd.”

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.

In this sense, Jauregi reminded the young people that "when you finish this experience, we need you to continue building the Basque Country; you are going away for a while, but you have to come back; you are essential for building our country’s future".

Scholarship Conditions

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

• 500 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:

They will collaborate by:

• Seeking the most suitable training placements in international companies and institutions where young people can gain practical experience.
• Administering the call for applications and selection process in partnership with Basque Trade & Investment.
• Designing initial training programme to prepare young people for the international experience.
• Providing ongoing support to scholarship holders and host companies throughout the scholarship period.

The final report will evaluate the outcome of the scholarship holders' training and experiences.