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Courses in Belgium Remuneration: Usually, courses which come under the heading of studies are
unpaid, in contrast to courses followed by job seekers in the context of specific
programs. However, some companies reimburse the costs of transport (bus or
A preferential trade and transit area in the heart of Europe, Belgium is
a federal State, subdivided into regions (Flanders in the north and Wallonia in the train season tickets) or offer meals free of charge or at a reduced price to students.
These benefits should be negotiated by the student or trainee.
south, with Brussels forming the union between these two main communities).
The presence of representative European Institutions has strengthened the
culture of exchanges and the use of foreign languages (especially Dutch, French Legal Duration: there is no uniform duration for the courses which take place
and English) in this country. On the political level, it is a constitutional monarchy. in the context of higher education. Work regulations are applied according to the
The characteristics of employment vary depending on the regions but mainly age of the trainee. The duration of a course of studies in Belgium is one to four
concern the services: the sectors of transport and communications, finance and months.
distribution and the retail trade. The sectors which accept the most trainees in
Belgium are banking, health, the media and the social and legal services. Specific requirements: Some institutions clearly stipulate how the evaluation
of the course is to be carried out in order to be officially recognised as part of
Name and legal framework the initial training. It is important that the student trainee from another country
Legal status of the course gives all relevant information to the business concerned as to the duration and
In Belgium, the course is always in relation to studies or a training course. The conditions of follow-up, support and assessment, so that he knows exactly what
the commitments are.
trainee is defined as a learner who is actually carrying out a job with an employer
under conditions similar to the company's other employees in order to acquire Title of stay: All universities and several high schools (HE) or Hogescholen offer
professional experience. These services must be performed on the employer's brochures with practical information for foreign students who come to study or take
premises and so, since no actual work is performed, observation courses and courses in Belgium. For non-European foreigners, Belgian legislation provides for
visits to businesses are not taken into consideration. the case of a stay to take a course in a company in the context of studies.
Two Royal decrees governing the protection of trainees are imposed on the
employer, the trainee and the educational institution. They cover the following For more information:
points: the analysis of the risks involved, the exchange of information between the The Federal Public Employment, Labour and Social Dialogue Service:
different parties (employer, trainee, establishment) and the monitoring of health. www.emploi.belgique.be
(Royal Decrees of 2004 and 2007) The Brussels Chamber of Commerce and Industry:
Since 2008, Wallonia has encouraged firms with more than 250 employees to www.beci.be
accept a 4% quota of trainees and apprentices. Training courses in Belgium take on
significantly different forms. It is appropriate to differentiate between courses for Practical life
pupils and students from the courses followed by those in search of employment. Language: as 'vous' (the formal second person in French) does not apply,
Details of the various types of courses available in French-speaking Belgium: relationships are generally simple and unequivocal. In the north, in Flanders,
www.monstage.be/type-de-stage-et-status.html Dutch is spoken, with different accents according to the area. In the south, in
Wallonia, French is spoken with linguistic variations. There is also a small German-
Course contract: this gives details of the terms and conditions of the course, speaking community on the east, near the German border. Brussels is a bilingual
with the activities and support which will be put in place. Several universities or community (French and Dutch).
institutes of higher education offer an example of a course contract or convention
on their web sites. Cost of living: prices are relatively stable, fairly close to those in France: 6 to 9€
For example, the University of Louvain-la-Neuve: www.uclouvain.be for breakfast, 12 to 20€ for a main course in a restaurant.

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