Rodrigo Oliveira stresses importance of traineeships and specialisation courses provided to Azorean youth by European institutions
The Regional Under Secretary of the Presidency for External Relations stressed in Ponta Delgada the importance and benefits of the tools provided by the Regional Government to Azorean youngsters, particularly those studying at the University of the Azores, under traineeship programmes at Community institutions and specialisation courses on EU affairs.
Rodrigo Oliveira welcomed a group of students from the Centre for European Studies and International Politics of the University of the Azores. During the meeting, the government official stressed that a "better use of the tools provided to Azorean youngsters," namely academic and post-university mobility, is fundamental to the Region, to the Autonomy and to the future of the relation between the Azores and the European Union. With these measures, youngsters will have the opportunity to contribute to the development of the Region with their short-term learning or professional experience in another European Union country.
The Under Secretary recalled that the Regional Government created the "Estagiar EU" programme, an initiative that aims to encourage, through scholarships, the participation of youngsters in six-month traineeship programmes at European institutions, such as the Commission, Parliament as well as other institutions and bodies in Brussels, Strasbourg or Luxembourg.
Under this programme, trainees will receive a monthly sum of 800 Euros, which will be added up to the amount paid by institutions, and 1,500 Euros in the case of unpaid traineeships. It also includes a round trip from the Azores to the country where the traineeship is to take place.
Rodrigo Oliveira also pointed out the José Medeiros Ferreira scholarship. It is annually awarded to young graduates who wish to attend a postgraduate course at the College of Europe, the most prestigious postgraduate institution in the area of European Studies. In this context, the government official stressed that the Government aims to promote "not only the specialised knowledge on the European Union, but also the practical experience of what is done in the main European decision-making centres."
"In fact, these tools are a unique opportunity for Azorean youth," stressed the government official.
After the meeting with students, Rodrigo Oliveira stressed the meeting was intended to strengthen the collaboration partnership with that Centres, especially with regard to the dissemination of the programmes developed by the Regional Government so that an increasing number of youngsters can seize the opportunities provided by these initiatives.