Welcome to IAESTE - LC Duisburg The International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience.

IAESTE exchanges students from more than 80 countries for practical training relevant to their studies. The Association was founded in January 1948 at Imperial College, London, on the initiative of the Imperial College Vacation Work Committee.

National organizations of ten European countries represented at this meeting became members, and Mr. James Newby was elected General Secretary. The geographical coverage was soon to spread to most of Europe and beyond, as new countries were admitted into membership.

The exchange of offers of training is conducted at the General Conference. Prior to the conference, each member country collects offers from employers willing to receive students from abroad for a training period related to the student's disciplines or study. The offering companies or organizations are expected to pay students a wage sufficient to cover their cost of living during the actual training periods.

These offers are exchanged with other members on a reciprocal basis at the General Conference. Through their affiliated universities and colleges, national secretariats select qualified students according to employer's requirements as stated on the training offers. Details of the selected candidates are sent to companies for approval.

Receiving countries arrange the necessary permits, lodging, and - in many cases - for social and cultural programs during or after the training period. All participating students are insured against accidents and illness and pay their own transportation expenses.

Our Aims:

Provide students at institutions of higher education with technical experience abroad relative to their studies in the broadest sense. Promote international understanding and goodwill amongst the students of all nations irrespective of race, color, sex or creed. Operate an exchange programme for the benefit of students, academic institutions, industrial and other organisations offering traineeships.