The program will see students placed for anywhere between four weeks to six months, carrying out work experience for one of a wide range of employers.

“We are so excited to build on our existing Erasmus+ and Turing placement offers by launching this new initiative in Valencia to improve the employability prospects of international students,” said Caroline Fox, CEO, Twin Group.

We are so excited to build on our existing Erasmus+ and Turing placement offer

“By doing this, Twin Group is becoming a global business working closely with European education partners and employers to expand the horizons of young people who are not deterred by borders when starting on a journey to a successful career,” said Fox.

Fox told The PIE that the growing importance of internships in Twin Group’s offering is in direct response to student and employer demand.

“A successful placement with an employer can be a game-changer in terms of enhancing a CV and landing a graduate role,” she said. “Many students secure jobs as a direct result of being on one of our internship programs.”

The initiative has already seen initial students from France and Italy gaining experience in digital marketing, teaching English as a foreign language, art galleries and business administration.

“The employers in Valencia are especially welcoming and we are confident that the students will enjoy their stay equally during work hours and their leisure time,” Fox noted.

“We can expand the list of industry sectors where opportunities for students are available”

International students who participate can expect to be paired with a mentor to supervise the placement and Twin Group has a representative in the city to offer further support where needed.

“The other really positive development is the number of employers expressing an interest in participating in our program which means that we can expand the list of industry sectors where opportunities for students are available,” added Fox.

Twin Group is looking to add hospitality to the program offer as many hotels and restaurants in Valencia need staff to cope with the influx of tourists in the coming season, a spokesperson from company said.

The company plans to monitor the initiative with a view to explore the possibility of expanding its international work experience offering to its other centres in Lisbon, Seville, Bordeaux, Marseille, Malta and Thailand.