1 on 1 exchange sessions are a crucial part of the IAESTE exchange programme. These sessions include one-on-one meetings between representatives from two different IAESTE committees. Their main goal is to make it easier to exchange internships, using Bilateral Exchange Agreements (BEAs).
IAESTE organises three key exchange sessions throughout the year:
Winter Exchange Session
Autumn Exchange Session
Spring Exchange Session
Two of these sessions are entirely virtual, while one is a hybrid session that coincides with the annual conference.
Before these sessions, it's essential to identify the countries/committees you want to exchange with and schedule appointments, a process streamlined over the past two years through the use of the Cvent platform.
To identify which countries/committees you want to exchange with and find relevant information, you can rely on your organisation's previous cooperation and refer to the activity report. This report often contains valuable insights and historical data on past collaborations that can guide your decision-making process. It’s recommended to meet with as many committees as possible, even if you’re not sure if you can exchange this year it’s worth it to check the potential for the future.
Once you've identified your exchange partners, the next step is to initiate the process by sending a Bilateral Exchange Agreement (BEA). This document formalises the agreement and sets the stage for successful internship exchanges.