Traineeships sought for French university students

The Maltese-French Chamber of Commerce (MFCC) is seeking work placement opportunities for French university students to undertake local traineeships to learn more about the way Maltese companies do business and to improve the students' business competences and language skills.

During these traineeships, which are at least eight weeks long and may vary in duration, the students also seek to make valuable contributions to their host companies. These could include areas such as sales, marketing projects, carrying out market surveys, preparing communication documents, updating websites, managing or assisting in projects, organising events and follow up, researching on import/export possibilities, preparing and possibly translating of business documents, etc.

The chamber said that local businesses that offer traineeships to such students would also benefit by gaining 'free' overseas exposure. It added that although the companies are not obliged to remunerate the trainee, they are urged to offer some form of compensation either in kind or in the form of pocket money.

During their university studies, French students undertake several such traineeship periods, which are subsequently validated through written and oral exams, in which they provide details on the tasks and activities carried out throughout their work placement. One of these traineeships has to be undertaken in an English-speaking country and thus many seek to undertake it in Malta.

The MFCC is co-ordinating this trainee programme in Malta and is taking care of all communication and dealing with the French students' arrival to Malta in order to make it more hassle-free for interested businesses. The chamber will also be responsible to find accommodation for the students.

Any company interested in offering a traineeship and any host family interested in accommodating a French student are to contact Odette Vella at the chamber on e-mail: odette.vella@mfccmalta.com.

The chamber's main aim is to promote and develop commercial, industrial and touristic exchanges between Malta and France, and is planning to host several events this year including some to mark the French EU presidency which starts in July.