Eurocities, the network of major European cities, is opening an internship opportunity in the field of Learning and Research.
The candidate would start as soon as possible, ideally in mid-March 2025 for a duration of 3 to 6 months. The start can be later in the year, depending on the intern’s availability and grant conditions
Eurocities is a dynamic and international team where we help people thrive in a friendly, open, and healthy environment. Joining our team means being part of an organisation that connects cities across Europe. As an intern, you will have the opportunity to work on meaningful projects, contribute to impactful initiatives, and engage with a network of experts from various fields.
This opportunity is reserved for students eligible for the Erasmus+ grant or other grants and depends on a successful application to the grant scheme. More information about the scheme is available here.
Prospective applicants are encouraged to check eligibility and specific details with their university.
About the project
The Learning and Research team works to develop insights on European cities’ challenges, and, through the Eurocities Academy, designs and implements training programmes to build cities’ capacities.
The Eurocities Academy focuses on responding to Eurocities’ member cities’ skills gaps and training needs, through hands-on, applied learning methodologies, in partnership with in-house and external experts.
In 2024, the Eurocities Academy trained over 120 city officials from over 60 cities on topics ranging from child policies to urban digital twins, gender equality or public procurement. For this year, priorities include the development of capacity-building and training programmes on EU engagement and advocacy, project development, mental health, AI in public services, and others.
The Eurocities research work focuses on bridging the gap between policy and evidence, ensuring that cities and EU institutions have access to timely, relevant, and actionable insights to address urban challenges. Through initiatives like the Eurocities Pulse Mayors’ Survey and thematic research reports, we support evidence-based policymaking and advocacy at the EU level.
For this year, priorities include scaling up existing initiatives (Eurocities Pulses) and building a more comprehensive approach on research for the network, including by expanding partnership with academic institutions, think tanks and EU bodies.
The successful intern will work with the Learning and Research team under the supervision of the coordinator of the Eurocities Academy, and of the policy advisor responsible for research.
Responsibilities
You will work as part of the Learning and Research team at the Eurocities office, either in Barcelona or Brussels. In this role, you will:
- Support the drafting of research reports.
- Assist in the organisation of training and research workshops.
- Curate e-learning courses for city officials.
- Contribute to content development for training programmes.
- Perform general administrative tasks.
- Provide valuable input for team discussions and brainstorming sessions.
As part of our team, you will:
- Gain in-depth insight into applied research urban matters and training for city officials and politicians, enhancing your knowledge and practical skills.
- Work closely with and learn from experts and city representatives from across Europe, fostering professional development and networking opportunities.
- A supportive and engaging team located in Brussels and Barcelona.
- In Belgium, reimbursement of public transportation costs.
Profile
You are a student full of initiative, self-driven, curious, creative, flexible and results oriented. You are eager to take ownership of tasks and contribute meaningfully to your team’s goals.
The skills and experience to do this job successfully include*:
- You must be enrolled as a Bachelor or Master student from a University, Business School or equivalent during the entire internship, in the related fields of: urban studies, sociology, political science, international relations, or other fields relevant for the responsibilities outline.
- Proficiency in English (additional languages are an asset).
- Strong organisational, analytical and communication skills, plus familiarity with (tools needed like Excel, Adobe, etc.) is highly beneficial.
- A proactive team player with a broad understanding of urban challenges in Europe (such as housing, climate action, mobility, and social cohesion), and an interest in local government functioning.
Assets:
- Experience related to the facilitation of learning events and/or delivering classes/lectures.
- Experience with urban research or addressing urban challenges.
- Familiarity with EU institutions, policies, and processes.
We are looking for candidates who fulfil most of these criteria, but do not hesitate to apply if you think that you could be a good fit for the position.
What you can expect from Eurocities
- The chance to contribute to impactful projects, with support and guidance from managers and colleagues.
- An opportunity to enhance both hard and soft skills through practical experience and mentorship.
- Learning goals tailored to help you meet educational requirements effectively.
- A valuable educational experience that integrates with a real-world professional environment.
- Exposure to an international work environment of a European network organisdation.
How to apply
Applicants are requested to send a letter of motivation, describing their motivation and area of interest, in one page maximum, together with a CV with by 12:00 on 17 February 2025 to: Patricia de Wouters, People & Operations Director, at jobs.trainees@eurocities.eu.
Please send the documents in pdf format and mention “Learning and Research Internship” in the subject line.
Your motivation letter should include replies to the following questions:
- What attracts you to Eurocities and its work in learning and research?
- How can your background, skills and ambitions contribute to addressing urban challenges in Europe?
Interviews will be held online on the week of 24 February 2025.
We are aware that you might use AI when applying for this position. It’s perfectly fine to use AI to brainstorm, structure your ideas or edit your language. Just please be aware that while AI is one of the tools we use in Eurocities, the main tool we need for the work here is our brains: This is a content-based position, and one that AI cannot do for you. Please keep this in mind during the process to avoid disappointment on both sides later in the process. We want to use this interview to get to know you and your ideas, not what ChatGPT thinks the best answers are.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview. CV and personal data of non-selected candidates are not shared with anyone outside Eurocities and will be deleted immediately after the recruitment process. For more information, read our privacy policy.