Just graduated and returning to university, but now for your first job? That's possible as a trainee in the two-year Leiden-Delft-Erasmus traineeship. Every year in September a group of 18 young recent graduates, divided over the three universities, start the traineeship. After a year they rotate to the next assignment and also switch universities.
The Leiden-Delft-Erasmus trainee program in its current form has existed for almost 10 years and is unique. With what purpose did the cooperating universities set up this traineeship at the time?
Universities not only need good scientists and teachers, but also strong professional staff'
Maaike Snoep is the coordinator of this program from the Leiden-Delft-Erasmus office: 'Universities not only need good scientists and teachers, but also strong professional staff. With the LDE trainee program, we together offer an interesting range of assignments for these young professionals.'
Snoep: 'Trainees develop professionally, build a strong network and take their experience from one workplace and university to the next. From that exchange, we as universities also learn and benefit again'.
Training package
The traineeship offers not only an interesting workplace - in Rotterdam, Delft, The Hague or Leiden - but also a training program at de Baak and an internal coaching program. All trainees are expected to do something extra and contribute to the success of the program. In various committees they commit themselves to overarching activities, such as master classes, a study trip and network meetings.
Added value in challenging assignment
What type of work does a trainee do? A mix of operational, tactical and strategic tasks, at faculties and central services such as Human Resources, Student Services, Data Management, Marketing & Communication, Finance, Integrated Management and International Relations.
Snoep: 'Every year we recruit the assignments internally at the three universities. The trainee wants to develop with a challenging assignment, the department wants to see the added value of these highly trained professionals. Each university employs a coordinator who is the point of contact for both client and trainee and arranges everything, such as recruitment, employment and rotation.'
The next recruitment round for the new batch of trainees will start on March 1, 2024. The schedule for the application rounds will be announced via the page below. There you will also find the contact details of the trainee coordinators for each university.
Experiences of a trainee
Trainee Hannelaure Verlinden began her second year last September. During her first year, she was a project officer in Education and Student Affairs at TU Delft, where she worked on services for students with disabilities.
Designing a project independently
In her second year at Leiden University, she works as an HRM advisor and policy officer within the Learning & Development team and the Policy team. Verlinden: 'Within this assignment, I get the confidence to shape my project independently. I am also happy that I am really part of a team and can learn to share responsibilities and work together.'
It is a unique opportunity to do very diverse jobs in a short period of time. And that within two different universities!'
In today's job market, there are plenty of opportunities for young high potentials. What triggered Verlinden to apply? 'It is a unique opportunity to do very diverse jobs in a short period of time. And that within two different universities! I applied for the traineeship because I was looking for a challenge, wanted to step out of my comfort zone and develop myself further'.
In addition to the training program at de Baak, the trainees' own network is also important. Verlinden: 'Those training days are intense and instructive. But I also get a lot out of the individual coaching and peer review with my fellow trainees. Together you often come to more insights.
