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Internships at Cardiff EDC

EDC Reception

The Cardiff EDC offers a number of opportunities to work for short periods in the Centre as an intern. It should be noted that these are offered on a volunteer / unpaid basis (see External Funding below).

Internships are open to anyone from an EU Member State (or from a candidate / potential candidate country). We will also consider applicants from outside these countries who have a particular wish to work in a centre that specialises in European information.

Applicants must be proficient in the English language (speaking and writing).

Typically, interns at the Cardiff EDC are:

  • students of European Studies, Politics, Law, Communication Studies or any other subject with a 'European' dimension
  • students of Librarianship / Information Studies
  • wanting to improve their language skills in the UK in a 'European' environment and/or in a special library.

We also welcome applications from students studying in Cardiff who wish to gain some work experience on a part-time basis in an environment with a strong focus on Europe and the European Union.

 

*2012 update*

We are currently supplied with full-time interns until the end of summer 2012. We are now open for applications for the period from September 2012 onwards.

Experience has shown that the following qualities make for the most successful interns at the Cardiff EDC:

  • a good existing knowledge of the EU and Europe in general
  • a good existing awareness of information sources relating to these topics
  • good IT skills and familiarity with social media formats such as Facebook
  • an outgoing and friendly manner
  • interest or experience in working in the media or in other aspects of information and communication.

You do not necessarily need all these skills in equal measure, but this is what we look for in the CVs and motivation letters of applicants.

We are looking for interns who wish to work with us for at least three months, although we are prepared to consider shorter stays.

We can also take on part-time interns, who generally work one half day a week for a set period.

 

 

What can you expect from an internship at Cardiff EDC?

You will have the opportunity to become a member of the small team of staff who work in the Cardiff EDC for a short period (1-6 months). You will be introduced to, and participate in, the activities of the Centre such as:

  • editorial, translation and and marketing work for European Sources Online (ESO)
  • dealing with enquiries
  • planning and participating in events organised by the Cardiff EDC
  • attending external events
  • updating Cardiff EDC's Facebook page.

You will be given full training in any activity you undertake and will work under the guidance of a permanent member of staff.

There will be the optional opportunity for you to spend some time working on a topic or project of your own choosing.

We hope you will enjoy your time at the Cardiff EDC, and gain some of the following benefits:

  • experience working in one of the leading European information centres in Europe
  • learn more about the European Union and the countries of Europe
  • improve your language skills
  • enhance your CV and future work prospects.

 

 

Accommodation

You will need to arrange your own accommodation in Cardiff*, although we can offer advice such as the names of budget hotels and/or hotels near the university. Low-cost self catering accommodation is available from Cardiff University during the summer vacation - contact residences@cardiff.ac.uk. You can also contact this email address to ask for weekly updated lists of private sector accommodation that might be suitable.

*If you are visiting as part of a Leonardo funded placement your accommodation in Cardiff will be arranged by ECTARC.

Cardiff University can sometimes provide accommodation during the academic year – please contact residences@cardiff.ac.uk and mark your message for the attention of Andrew Gough. You must highlight that you will be working in the Cardiff EDC on an unpaid internship and that Ian Thomson, Cardiff EDC Director, will be your supervisor.

The university estimates that bed and breakfast accommodation in local establishments will cost approximately £30-£40 a night and hotels charge £50-£105 a night. See also Visit Cardiff.

We recommend when you arrive in Cardiff that you register with a local doctor, details of which can be found at the website of the Cardiff and Vale University Health Board. It is also important that you bring a current European Health Insurance Card – you should apply for this in your own country. The EHIC makes it easier for people from the European Union’s 27 Member States plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland to access healthcare services during temporary visits abroad.

 

External funding

While internships at the Cardiff EDC are unpaid, it is sometimes possible to receive external financial support through such schemes as:

You will need to enquire about these possibilities through national agencies in your own country.

 

 

How to apply

Send an email to edc@cardiff.ac.uk with 'Internship Enquiry' as the subject. You should provide the following information:

  • when you would like to visit
  • how long you wish to stay
  • your background
  • English language proficiency
  • your motivation for choosing the Cardiff EDC
  • full contact details.

Please also attach a full CV / Resumé.

All enquiries will receive a response whether or not we are able to offer a placement.

 

 

Reports from recent interns

 

Christopher Langen, June-July 2010

Christopher Langen

Part of my Masters programme 'English Studies' at the Freie Universität Berlin is to analyse contemporary cultural concepts, e.g. national identity and its relation to the Loss of Empire and the European Union. During my work as a Foreign Language Assistant for German in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales, in 2009-10, I realised that British public opinion towards the European Union differs from that of other European countries I had previously experienced.

This gave me an incentive for research in this field and I had some interesting and informative conversations with Andy Klom, the Head of the European Commission's Representation in Wales, and Ian Thomson, Director of the Cardiff EDC and Executive Editor of European Sources Online (ESO). When Ian Thomson offered me an internship to pursue this research further and to contribute to the existing service of the EDC and ESO I gladly accepted it.

My work at the EDC basically consisted of three major tasks:

  • to revise outdated country and miscellaneous ESO Information Guides
  • to support the maintenance of the ESO database
  • to research and compile a new information guide on Euroscepticism.

All of these tasks require but also enhance computer and internet skills as the work is based on internet research – which can be challenging at times – and integrating information into existing or new files.

In addition, I accompanied Ian Thomson to a planning meeting for the 2011 Wales, Europe and the World event at the headquarters of Cilt Cymru. The event will be held in Cardiff in February 2011, and is intended for children between 12 and 18. I also met a group of EDC librarians from Romania who were visiting the Cardiff EDC in June and joined them as they went to visit the Representation of the European Commission in Cardiff Bay.

The staff in the EDC are very supportive regarding questions on both technical and content issues. Additionally, you are encouraged to share your own experiences and make suggestions. Ian Thomson is always interested in discussing new or different working procedures and concepts. The atmosphere at work is focused but relaxed and very cooperative.

Christopher Langen at work

Chris editing a European Sources Online Country Information Guide

All the tasks at the EDC are related to European issues; therefore working there helps to broaden one's knowledge about the EU and Europe as a whole, especially through the editing of the country information guides. The maintenance of the ESO database provides a good insight into this specific type of database and fosters competencies in internet search engines and website structures.

As the working language is English, it is an excellent chance to improve both productive and receptive language skills, even though internees should be proficient particularly in the latter. Further knowledge of European languages can be very helpful but is not obligatory, since all documents are compiled in English.

Even though I was not able to stay as long as I planned initially – due to the fact that I was not granted ERASMUS Student Mobility for Placement funding by my home university – I regard the work at the EDC as highly beneficial. I got good insights into another part of British every-day life and was able to improve my English further by constantly using it on a professional level. Conducting my research at the EDC was a brilliant opportunity, as Ian Thomson was very helpful and is an outstanding resource himself, apart from all the other valuable resources at the EDC. It was a welcome experience to apply knowledge gained throughout my studies and to contribute actively to an information network. To discuss ideas about Europe, the EU, European integration and politics with members of staff was instructive as well as a pleasure.

To live in South Wales for a year was a great experience. The picturesque seaside and valleys, authentic small towns, historic sites and Cardiff itself offer diverse attractions and leisure time activities all in close proximity. To enjoy them fully, a car is helpful but most things, particularly in Cardiff, can be reached by public transport. As I could go on for pages, I will just name my top five attractions. They are, in random order: hiking on the Valeways Millennium Heritage Trail; exploring the Museum of Welsh Life at St Fagans; sunbathing and surfing in Rest Bay, Porthcawl; witnessing medieval spectacles in Caerphilly Castle; experiencing Welsh patriotism during a national rugby fixture at the Millennium Stadium.

Christopher Langen
July 2010

 

 

Veronika Brazdilova, August 2010

Veronika Brazdilova

I am studying for a Masters degree in Communication at Science Po Paris and I'm interested in the European Union. That is the reason why I have an interest in the European Information and Documentation Centres. And I wanted to come to the UK to improve my language skills. The website of the European Documentation Centre in Cardiff seemed to me very well done and I got a feeling that the centre is very active. That is why I decided to apply for a month's internship.

When I came I was really impressed by the work of the centre, because with only three people they are running a huge database and information service called European Sources Online (ESO), which is - in my opinion - a very good thing. So at first my task consisted of contributing to the ESO database, I made several ESO Country Information Guides and I also indexed some reports of the European Commission.

Veronika Brazdilova in the EDC

The second part of my working task consisted of a marketing study on how to find new ESO subscribers. I translated the existing presentation 'Introduction to ESO' into French and Czech, and I prepared several spreadsheets with contact details to Parliamentary and National Libraries throughout all of Europe and to the European information network in Turkey. I would like to continue my cooperation with the centre to find subscribers in France and in the Czech Republic.

I really liked the internship, it met my original expectations. I enjoyed working in a very nice environment with very nice people. I loved my discussions with Ian Thomson about European issues and ESO matters. The month in Cardiff was very beneficial for me from a personal and professional point of view. I felt more confident while speaking English and also I obtained very valuable experience in the field of European information. Moreover, browsing a large number of web sites (for example the European regions or Parliaments) was very valuable to my communication specialisation.

Wales Millennium Centre

Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay

Concerning Cardiff as a city I found it a very pleasant place. The city centre is fine although, in my opinion, there are too many shops. I really like the new public library building and Bute Park which is the most amazing park I have ever seen. I also love Cardiff Bay - I walked twice over the Barrage. On one of these walks I went on into Penarth and onto the pier, which was very lovely.

I also tried to profit by my staying in the UK as a tourist - I visited Stratford, Oxford, Brecon Beacons National Park, and I also had brief looks around Birmingham and Bristol.

 

To sum up: I am very happy that I did this internship!

Veronika Brazdilova
August 2010

 

 

Nadja Kalinna and Felix Franke, August-September 2010

Nadja KalinnaFelix Franke

During our apprenticeship in Germany to become specialists in media and information services we did a six week internship in the European Documentation Centre in Cardiff. We wanted to improve our knowledge about libraries, library systems and information / documentation centres. In order to achieve these goals we were given several tasks within the EDC.

At first we were introduced to the EDC as a whole and furthermore to the EDC's own database, European Sources Online (ESO). Our first task was the translation of a brochure introducing ESO to its users. We translated both the short and the long version from English into German. Even though it took a long time, it was very interesting and we got to know ESO even better. Our second task was the revision of country information guides concerning the countries in Europe. We both did several of these information guides on our own, which gave us a better insight on the countries in Europe and the issues concerning them. Each country struggles with its own problems, and it was very enlightening to get to know some of these problems, for example the independence of Kosovo.

One of our biggest and most time consuming jobs was the exchanging of broken links with functioning ones in the database. If these links do not work, the user is incapable of getting to the web page and the required information. Additionally we created new records for ESO. That is one of the most challenging tasks in the EDC, and therefore we didn't do it all on our own. We just did a small part of the whole process that is necessary to create new records. Another small job we did was checking in the new periodicals and shelving them in the EDC collection.

Felix Franke & Nadja Kalinna

Felix and Nadja at the Mock Council Debate

During our stay we had the opportunity to take part in a Mock Council Debate with school children from all over Wales. This took place at the National Assembly of Wales in Cardiff Bay and was launched by the First Minister of Wales, Carwyn Jones. That was very interesting and politically informative.

We also visited some of the other branch libraries of the university. These were the Aberconway Library (serving the Cardiff Business School), the Arts and Social Studies Library and the Trevithick Library (serving the School of Engineering). We were introduced to the RFID system and the acquisition and cataloguing department. We were also given the chance to visit SCOLAR, the archive collection of the university with its old books and manuscripts, which was very interesting.

The working atmosphere at the EDC is very pleasant. The staff - consisting of only three people: Ian, Ceri and Ronen - are kind and courteous and are willing to help if you have questions. We were integrated into the work processes and given the opportunity to work part time in other branch libraries if we wanted.

In our spare time we enjoyed Cardiff very much. We visited the city and the bay and Castell Coch. We also took a day off to go to Bath where we looked at the Roman Baths and other famous sights of the city. We did some shopping in Cardiff and found the prices quite high, at least higher than in Germany (except for certain clothes).

All in all we enjoyed our stay in Cardiff very much as well as our work in the EDC. Cardiff is a lively city with lots of opportunities and very friendly people. We would recommend to everyone to do an internship at the EDC, because the work is both interesting and pleasant.

Nadja Kalinna and Felix Franke
September 2010

 

 

Helen Halbert, November 2010

Helen Halbert

I will be completing a Masters degree in library and information sciences at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada in 2011 and decided to take the opportunity to combine travel with practical work experience before officially beginning my programme of study, so I applied to Cardiff University to undertake a variety of placements in the field. My internship with the European Documentation Centre during the month of November was the first of three.

During my time at the EDC, I completed research for and contributed editorial content to European Sources Online (ESO), a database and European information service based at the Centre. I created an information guide for EU nationals on living, working, studying, and retiring in other EU Member States, and a reference list of Canadian sources for EU information, compiling and including press releases and publications from government bodies, university research groups, national think tanks, and First Nations groups. I also received training in the ESO database and was thus able to index articles, news items, and reports for the system.

My internship served as a comprehensive introduction to library work, allowing me to experience some of the tasks and everyday duties that are part and parcel of running a specialist library, including fielding inquiries at the help desk and familiarising myself with the catalogue system.

Helen Halbert working in the EDC

Helen working on an information guide

I was fortunate enough that my time at the centre coincided with two of the outreach events the EDC hosts annually as part of its overall aim of promoting EU awareness and providing services to the public at large: a welcome evening for ERASMUS exchange students who are currently studying at Cardiff or who are planning to use the programme in the future, and a European film and discussion night to mark the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion 2010.

I helped the EDC team organise and prepare for the events, as well as greeting guests over the course of the evenings.

I also had the opportunity during my internship to attend, as a guest of Ian Thomson, several informative events such as a Cardiff University library staff briefing session and the annual Wales European Information Network meeting, which featured discussion of Welsh information initiatives and EU activities between representatives from the European Commission Office in Wales, national Europe Direct Centres, public libraries, local government, and other relevant organisations.

I really enjoyed my time working with the small but effective three-person team at the EDC. Ian, Ceri and Ronen were very friendly and welcoming, as well as patient when it came to answering my questions and offering me help as someone new to both the library and the city of Cardiff.

Helen Halbert
November 2010

 

 

George Gurescu, January-April 2011

George Gurescu

My internship at the European Documentation Centre at Cardiff University seemed to be like a double challenge for me. First: three months in another country, all alone, in a city where I've never been before. Second: let's say that I am interested in EU issues and politics, but is this enough for me to manage this internship? And now, after those three months (from January to April 2011) spent with the extraordinary team of the Cardiff EDC, I can tell you that I won that challenge.

It wasn't hard at all; the things that you need are commitment and devotion. And I've learned this back home, in my country, Romania. After three years of studying Journalism at the Alexandru Ioan Cuza University in Iasi, Romania and being enrolled now in a Masters programme - Mass-media production techniques - I realised that you must always seek new, exciting challenges and opportunities in order to gain more confidence in yourself.

The internship at the Cardiff EDC has been a great experience. Professionally speaking, I can tell you that I've learned tons of information related to 'how the EU works' or what is the impact of a certain event that happened in Brussels. Working editorially on European Sources Online (ESO) on a daily and intensive basis is like taking an academic course on the EU and is of great value for my future career as a journalist.

I compiled and revised several ESO Country Information Guides, having to browse through the internet for relevant, pertinent and strong information sources that could say something about a certain issue from a certain country. By figuring out which is the most suitable and the most appropriate information source for ESO, I've added to and enriched my own cultural background with new resources.

After that, I had to index and to create 'news' records for ESO. For me, that was proof from Ian Thomson, the EDC director, that he trusted me and he was not afraid that I could fail. Step by step, I started understanding a part of the EU mechanism and this internship was a huge help for me. For my future career - hoping that I will be a journalist - this experience is very useful. I enriched my EU background and I developed new skills by working alongside this small dedicated and committed team of people, Ian, Ceri and Ronen.

In the three months I also participated at several events organised by EDC, or where the Cardiff EDC had been invited as a guest. At the very beginning I went to the first meeting of the newly created EDC Forum, where I had the opportunity to meet people really interested in the EDC's activities from both within and outside Cardiff University. I also went with Ceri and Ian to the Wales, Europe and the World event at Cardiff City Hall in February 2011 where we organised a Euro-quiz for pupils from Cardiff schools.

Bridgend school visit April 2011

George and Silvia with pupils from Llangynwyd, Bridgend.

One of the most exciting events happened right at the end of my internship, when I went to Bridgend, a small town near Cardiff, and presented, with my part-time intern colleague Silvia, the role of the EU in front of five groups of Year 9 pupils.

It was a Personal and Social Education Day (PSE), when all the children from the school participated in a range of presentations organised by their school.

It was a challenge - to see if I can actually talk (in English) with so many children about a pretty complex subject - but, after all, I really think that we did a great job.

 

Cardiff Bay

Cardiff Bay

Of course, I wasn't at work all those three months so, during my weekends, I went around the city and to places nearby, and I can tell you that Wales has really great landscapes and places to visit.

Sunny Sundays in Barry Island, relaxing afternoons in the open air museum at St Fagans, and day trips to Bath or Bristol, this is what you can get if you stay in Cardiff.

What really impressed me here is the cosmopolitan air that surrounds the city. You could say that it's a small city (if we compare it with Manchester, Liverpool, etc.) but it has a wonderful cosmopolitan feel.

A simple coffee in the middle of the park and you will see all types of people from all around the world. It gives you a sense of liberty, cultural diversity and, eventually, you transform this place into your own home.

I could write many pages, but for the next interns that want to come here, I can tell them that the Cardiff EDC is the place from where you can basically learn practical and very useful things about the EU and you will have a dedicated and trustworthy team by your side all the time.

George Gurescu
April 2011

 

Christina Lee, January-June 2011

Studying in a new country is already stressful enough with the new writing formats, citations and teaching styles, but taking a part-time internship position at the European Documentation Centre at Cardiff University while you are still adjusting to a different country might be considered more than overly stressful. However, to my delight it was not stressful at all. This internship was more than just a learning experience about the European Union, it was a chance for me to work with other European citizens and learn from them.

The work in which I was involved exposed me to the different resources available in US based organisations about the European Union. Having entered this internship with a general understanding of the issues in the European Union that are highlighted in newspapers and web sites I was surprised to come across sites devoted to not just the generic issues, but to many issues I was surprised reigned heavily in European nations. Environmental issues and trade agreements that I have never heard of or experienced before were highlighted before my eyes and the detail that each article gave was tremendous.

However, it was not just the work that I was doing that helped further my understanding in the European Union. I had the pleasure of meeting new interns from places such as Romania, Estonia, and Finland and learning from them the different forms of government there, while we worked. During those moments they helped me connect with them, through the eyes of the youth, about the politics and societies around Europe. The director, Ian Thomson, was also able to help me understand more about Europe through our morning talks as well. They even suggested many new places for me to visit in the near future which is always a plus in my book.

Overall my experience in the EDC office in Cardiff can only be summed up through one word; amazing. The work was informative and helpful, but most importantly it was the people that made my internship experience one that I will not forget.

Christina Lee
June 2011

 

Johanna Kämäräinen, May–September 2011

Johanna Kamarainen

Part of my studies of International Business in Lahti University of Applied Sciences is an internship done abroad. My interest in the European Union led me eventually to the European Documentation Centre in Cardiff and I was so pleased when I was accepted and given the opportunity to be part of their team for five months from May to September 2011.

My time at Cardiff EDC was very interesting and productive. My work included the translation of the Introduction to ESO presentation into Finnish, revising and updating the ESO Information Guides for different countries, including the creation of a Finnish language version for the Finland guide, and other tasks.

I had the chance to attend events such as Europe Day celebration at the Cardiff Central Library and the Europe Day Quiz at the Cardiff EDC on 9 May 2011, and also the Mock Council at the National Assembly for Wales on 14 September, a debating opportunity for school children from Welsh schools. At these events I got to meet new people, gain more information and improve my conversation skills.

Johanna Kamarainen in the EDC

Also a big part of the internship was to be up to date on not only the things happening in the European Union but also all over the world. In other words, I learned a great deal about foreign affairs. Not just about the functions of EDCs and ESO, but also about the European Union and the whole world.

The team that I worked with, led by EDC Director Ian Thomson, was amazing. They were really helpful and nice. I also met other interns from Wales, Estonia, Greece, France and Italy. Being around supportive, nice and professional people made my work enjoyable and gave new perspectives.

Cardiff as a city was quite nice and lively. The best places I visited in Cardiff were definitely Cardiff Bay and the barrage, and the beautiful country trail at the Cwm George Woods in Dinas Powys. I also recommend places such as Roath Park, Cardiff Castle and the National Museum. The Millennium Stadium is a place for people who enjoy different sports such as rugby and football. Also international artists like Snoop Dogg and Christina Aguilera have visited there. So in Cardiff, there is something for everyone and no one will get bored.

I also had the chance to visit Fishguard and see places along the Pembrokeshire coast. Places such as the Abereiddy Blue Lagoon and the Strumble Head Lighthouse were amazing. And I have to say, that the scenery in Wales and rest of the UK is just breath taking. I hope interns of the future will have the chance to see some of the beautiful places that Wales and UK has to offer. Weekends and days off are perfect for a wander around the countryside and cities.

Over all, my time in Cardiff was superb in every way. Not also did I learn a lot, but I grew as a person and gained more confidence in myself and the work I do. My experience is something I will never forget and I thank Cardiff EDC and the entire team involved in my stay in Cardiff for a lovely time.

Johanna Kämäräinen
October 2011

See a selection of photographs taken by Johanna during her visit:

Photos by Johanna Kämäräinen [365.9 Kb]

 

Jorge Montesdeoca Pérez, October 2011-February 2012

Jorge Montesdeoca Perez

I worked as an intern in the Cardiff EDC for five months. I have spent five incredible months working together with very nice colleagues.

First of all, I came to Cardiff in 2010 in order to take a Masters degree in European Studies at Cardiff University. Even though I had a legal background and I had worked as a lawyer in the city of Barcelona, I have always been really interested in the study of politics, and particularly in the European integration process.

After finishing my Masters degree in the summer of 2011 I was granted some funding by the Canary Island Government with the goal of gaining practical experience in an institution related to the European integration process. Because I felt comfortable in the city of Cardiff I decided to stay here. I was so lucky that I was able to find a place like the Cardiff EDC which met all the requirements for my practical experience.

The centre is within Cardiff University, close to the Business School; therefore you feel part of the university community all the time. The EDC staff are very nice; there are only three people but they are very helpful and friendly. At the same time they have a lot of dedication to their jobs.

Jorge and Hélène

Jorge and Hélène show some of the French and Spanish food they prepared for the ‘What Europe means to me’ event

One of the most important things is that the EDC at Cardiff is very active, and this fact was definitely a significant asset for me. The centre organises a series of events and the interns always get involved. This allows you to feel like a real part of the EDC family.

For example, I prepared Spanish food for a ‘What Europe means to me’ event at the Cardiff EDC in December 2011 and spoke of the power of football to unite Europe at the event.

I also helped to compile a European quiz, which took place at an event called ‘Wales, Europe and the World’ for 300 school children at the City Hall, Cardiff in February 2012.

During the autumn of 2011 I attended three external seminars on Wales and Europe with Cardiff EDC Director Ian Thomson.

Jorge in the EDC

My internship was very fruitful, not only regarding the new skills I acquired working on the ESO website (including revising English and Spanish language versions of the ESO Information Guide to Spain and creating a Catalan version of the Introduction to ESO), but also because we were constantly engaged in discussions about the current situation in Europe, sharing our different points of view which emerged from different nationalities, ages and educational backgrounds.

Likewise, working on the different tasks in the EDC, I feel I have increased dramatically my knowledge about the functioning of the European Union. This is what I was looking for after the theoretical content of the Masters, namely practical knowledge and a critical approach. I will always be very grateful to Cardiff EDC Director, Ian Thomson and his staff, Ceri and Ronen, for the splendid times I experienced with them, and also, I do not want to forget my intern colleagues Hélène and Lucas.

Regarding the city of Cardiff, I think it is a very enjoyable city with the perfect size and an overwhelming student atmosphere. You can enjoy the tranquility of a medium city, while at the same time you can take advantage of the facilities and the dynamism of a capital. This seems to me the perfect combination. It is also the perfect point to initiate a fascinating adventure in order to discover a beautiful country like Wales and its invaluable culture and heritage.

Jorge Montesdeoca Pérez
February 2012

 

Hélène Louis, October 2011-March 2012

Helene Louis

In order to complete my Masters in European and International Studies at Université Paul Verlaine, Metz, France (now part of the Université de Lorraine), I was required to do an internship. This internship would be the last one before I start working so the first aim was to confirm my professional objectives.

After having completed three internships in the private sector, I decided to pursue my research in a European environment. In the past, I had been to Cardiff twice and really enjoyed the city and Wales in general. So the perfect match seemed to be doing this internship in the European Documentation Centre located in Cardiff. I am really glad with this choice because this internship brought me a lot of knowledge and also confirmed my professional objectives.

The Cardiff EDC is quite a small structure and the team is very pleasant so it’s easy to feel quickly part of it. Moreover, the tasks I was asked to do and the events I took part in were really interesting. As part of the job, I was first asked to be up to date with the European news. Therefore, every morning I read several articles related to different topics in order to keep informed and really enjoyed the discussions about some European issues with the team. This helped for the other tasks since I felt really informed and up to date with the European news.

Most of my work consisted of helping with ESO (European Sources Online). I updated several information guides related to countries (for example, France in English and French), EU policies (for example, Consumer Policy) and institutions (for example, European Parliament in English and French). These information guides aim at giving information to people about various fields and also give links to web sites which can help them find information about a particular topic. These guides already existed, however, they need to be checked and updated regularly in case changes occur in a policy or the links redirecting to web sites are broken or new useful sources have been created. Thanks to this task, I learnt a lot about Europe, its policies and institutions. I also learnt to look efficiently for sources of information online.

For example, one of my biggest tasks involved updating the guide about the European Parliament. I had to check every hyperlink to make sure that they were not broken and replace them if so. I also had to check if new important legislation, procedures or initiatives had entered into force since the guide was last updated and create a new section about these developments. While I was updating the guide, the election of the new President of the European Parliament took place so it had to be included in the guide. Once the guide was completely updated, I translated it into French and changed the links to French web pages.

Cardiff City Hall

Cardiff City Hall

During my internship, I also participated in several conferences at locations in Cardiff such as the Millennium Centre, the Millennium Stadium and the European Commission Office in Wales. These conferences allowed me to learn more about the European Union's actions particularly in Wales, so again, I felt quite close and quite involved in what happened in Europe and Wales. Besides, the speakers of these events were important political figures within the European and Welsh framework so it was really interesting to listen to them and to learn from them.

As part of my EDC work, I was asked to participate in several events. Hence, I was a speaker at two events organised by the EDC. One was called ‘What Europe means to me’ in December 2011 in which all the interns talked about Europe and its meaning to them. I talked about European identity. I also took part in an event in March 2012 about the European Citizens’ Initiative in which I talked about making 9 May, Europe Day, a public awareness day within Europe.

These events were really friendly and informal since they were mainly organised by the interns for a university audience. For example, we could learn the point of view of each intern at the Cardiff EDC about Europe, which was rewarding. We also offered to cook food from our own country so it was interesting to taste food from other countries and to share what we made with others. On top of all that, the atmosphere was friendly with people from different backgrounds. Though these events were informal, the former Head of Representation of the European Commission in Wales as well as the Senior Political Officer from the European Commission Office in London participated. So there was a real discussion with ideas and a wide range of topics enabling people to open their mind to other cultures.

I took part in other events organised by the Cardiff EDC in 2012 as well, such as the Erasmus Reception and the European Film Night. The events organised by the EDC are really popular and many Cardiff students are interested in participating in them. My fellow intern Jorge and I were also asked to compile a quiz about Europe and to submit it to children on the occasion of an event called ‘Wales, Europe and the World’. It was challenging since we didn’t know the level of the children, we had to aim for approachable but, at the same time, not too easy questions. In the event, the children proved to be quite knowledgeable about Europe.

This internship was therefore really enjoyable and very interesting. I worked with friendly people coming from various backgrounds. I would recommend to anybody interested in the European Union and its issues and also willing to meet people coming from Europe and outside to apply for an internship within the European Documentation Centre at Cardiff.

Rhossili

Rhossili, Gower Peninsula

I also recommend the city of Cardiff which is a very beautiful and enjoyable city. It’s mainly a student city so it’s a living and bustling city with much going on. Wales is a nice country to live in and visit with easy access to the sea and the mountains. During my stay, I had the opportunity to visit several places in Wales such as the Brecon Beacons National Park, Castell Coch, the National History Museum at St Fagans, Swansea and the Gower Peninsula. During each visit, I was impressed with the landscapes Wales offers.

These six months have been really rewarding and allowed me to confirm my professional objectives since my next step is to take the competition to hopefully enter the European function. This internship also allowed me to improve my confidence in English, written as well as spoken, since writing information guides helped me learn new words and improve my rhetoric. Moreover, speaking in public, notably during the events, made me feel more comfortable and confident.

To conclude, I want to thank all the team at the Cardiff EDC for their kindness, openness and availability: Ian, Ceri and Ronen and also Jorge, Chaminda and Lucas, with whom I spent most of my time as an intern here.

Hélène Louis
March 2012

Read Hélène's report in French