It was more or less 12 years ago when I presented the "home office" as a benefit for the workforces to the CEO & Board of a company. I still remember some of the reactions: "Oh, no. How will I control the work quality? How will I ensure they're working? I can't imagine it". It's hard to believe today, but this is how it was. 

Today, many of my friends work from anywhere there is an internet connection. Some of them don't even have an assigned desk in their company office, being frequently on the move and meeting their boss, who sits on the other side of the world, online. Some others, from their home office, in their bedroom, manage an international team. I am not surprised that more than two-thirds of people around the world work away from the office at least once a week, according to researchers. The development of internet technologies and communication software has given home working a huge boost. 

Tomorrow, changes we have introduced to our working life, in order to fight against the pandemic and its economic consequences, will still be there and the home working environment, including remote working, will be much more prevalent than we could have possibly thought at the beginning of January this year.

IAESTE creates a future international workforce

IAESTE stands for promoting international understanding, providing professional experience and preparing future STEM experts for the working environment. 

Millions of dollars have been allocated by many countries this week to fight the COVID-19 and develop a vaccine. 

One of the teams working on a COVID-19 treatment is located at Imperial College, London (where IAESTE was founded) and is led by Professor Robin Shattock. It's an international team, and there are many international teams working with the same mission. Would they be able to cooperate, sharing research and developments without being able to work remotely on a global scale? Certainly not.

This example shows the importance of being able to work remotely across borders. It isn't something you learn while studying, you need a real international remote working experience. It all comes together with IAESTE Remote Internships. 

Remote Internships build bridges across countries

According to IntenetWorldStats, close to 60% of the world's population uses the internet. This creates new opportunities for students who are not able to participate in a traditional exchange internship programme because they can't afford to travel abroad or because of their countries geopolitical situation and visa restrictions.

IAESTE Remote Internships give them a chance to form international friendships and gain valuable work experience.

At the heart of IAESTE Remote Internships lies quality. Each internship is created and defined in such a way as to ensure providing students with valuable work experience. We guide both students and employers on how to work remotely on an international basis. As always, we care about each trainee and provide social and intercultural experience online and at home. 

IAESTE Remote Internships are an additional way, alongside IAESTE's world-known internship exchange programme, to connect even more students and employers and build bridges between cultures by using the latest technologies. 

If you have any questions, contact us on info@iaeste.org