The ATEST (Assessment of Traineeships within the European credit transfer SysTem) prpject is proposed as a two year project s and should address the problem and find solution, respectively to find a recommendation for approval of credits also for internships. The traineeships is a part of the study - students gain practical experience in their field of study in another way – through practical activities which is very important and essential for their further professional development. The current practice used for recognition of traineeships results shows us huge differences between universities and also within the same university. We can see large differences in the manner of allocated credits for internship performed within the Erasmus programme (from 0 ECTS to 30 ECTS). If we accept the Erasmus programme traineeships as an integral part of study, it must be objectively evaluated in accordance with recognized rules, i.e. ECTS. For traineeships there is no model how to evaluate and recognize participation in Erasmus traineeships under the ECTS. The project partners will analyze own system at 10 universities in 9 EU countries for recognition of traineeships used by each project partner and altogether the project team will prepare common analysis, how could be solved the problem of recognition of traineeships based on ECTS according to the period, results and other aspects of traineeships. Project coordinator is EDUCA INTERNATIONAL, o.p.s. (NGO) which is registered as an Erasmus consortium for 8 Czech universities and has sufficient experiences in this field.
The ATEST (Assessment of Traineeships within the European credit transfer SysTem) project was proposed as a two year project and looked for a solution and recommendation around ECTS credits award for internships. Partners of the project were 9 universities from 9 EU countries, coordinator was Educa International, o.p.s. (NGO). The traineeships are for students a part of their university education to gain practical experience in their field of study through practical activities in companies and other institutions . This is very important and essential for their further professional development and better emloyability after the graduation. The current practice used for recognition of traineeships results shows a huge differences between universities and also within the same university. We can see large differences in the attitude towards allocation of credits for internship performed within the Erasmus programme (from 0 ECTS to 30 ECTS). If we accept the Erasmus programme traineeships as an integral part of study, it must be objectively evaluated in accordance with recognized rules, i.e. ECTS. For traineeships there was no model how to evaluate and recognize participation in Erasmus traineeships under the ECTS, mainly of volutary traineeships. The project partners analyzed their own credit allocation systems at their universities, universtities of Educa Consortium and also all partners asked other universtities in their countries to fill in a project questionnaire which was distributed also to other countries participating in Erasmus traineeship activities. Project team prepared analysis, and outcomes present a possible solution and recommendation how to approach traineeships based on ECTS according to the period, results and other aspects of traineeships. Project found also other problems that should be addressed by another analysis of data. The attitude of companies toward traineeships and evaluation of traineeship.