Student story‑ Erasmus+ Traineeship in Germany

Raja Charlotte Petruscke, Master in Sociology

Erasmus+ traineeship in Germany

Can you describe your internship?

I started my internship in the end of August (2026) at the University of Wuppertal, Germany. The department I'm in is doing research in the field of civil protection, disaster relief, and facility security. I decided to do an internship in Germany to gain a more detailed understanding of the structure of disaster management in the country, since disaster management is heavily based on national law. And I hope to identify potential job opportunities for the future.

What will you be doing during your internship?

Over the period of ten weeks, I will be working on three projects. The first project I’m involved in is called “ReVerSy” and focuses on strengthening the resilience of crisis management teams through holistic system modules. Toward the end of my internship, I’ll be supporting my colleagues at a workshop with practitioners, which I’m really looking forward to. The “PreKris” project is my second focus. Here the current emphasis is on qualitative methods, where I can apply and further deepen my knowledge. An excursion to a fire station is planned as part of this project, so I will have a look into practice too. And my third area of focus is a collaboration between Germany and Sweden. Here, I'm working with my Swedish colleague on publications for the project website. So all in all it is really varied, which I like.

Erasmus+ traineeship

Raja's internship will end on November 8th, 2026. It is part of her Master's programme and is 15 credits. Erasmus+ traineeship is an international opportunity with a scholarship available to all degree seeking students, as it can be for credit as part of the programme, but also voluntary (no credit). The Erasmus+ traineeship is possible to do during your studies or after the program is completed, as a Recent graduate traineeship.

More information about Erasmus+ traineeship and how to apply for the scholarship