20 Apr IN-KEY: Removing barriers to international internships
The new Erasmus+ project IN-KEY has been launched: committed to opening the doors of international work experience to every student, regardless of their background, disability, or economic situation, IK-KEY focuses on making international internship more inclusive and accessible.
A gap that Europe can no longer ignore
International internships have the power to transform careers, but only when they are truly accessible to all. Today, far too many students across Europe are excluded from these opportunities, not because they lack talent or ambition, but because the system is not designed with inclusivity in mind.
Students with physical or mental disabilities, those from low-income backgrounds who cannot afford to live abroad without adequate support, and first-generation migrants navigating cultural and linguistic barriers continue to face structural obstacles that limit their participation in international mobility programmes, including Erasmus+. Their underrepresentation is not incidental, it reflects gaps that have yet to be meaningfully addressed.
IN-KEY- Inclusive Work Experiences for Young Professionals- is built on the belief that international experience should not be a privilege for the few, but a right accessible to all. By placing inclusivity at its core, the project seeks to remove these barriers and ensure that every young person, regardless of background, has a fair opportunity to benefit from global learning and work experiences.
Funded by the Erasmus+ programme and running over 24 months, the project brings together six organisations from four European countries to build a new model for inclusive international internships.
Opening doors to global opportunities
At the heart of IN-KEY lies a simple but powerful conviction: inclusive access to international mobility is not only a matter of fairness, it is a catalyst for innovation and long-term social stability. When opportunities are opened to diverse talents and perspectives, the benefits extend far beyond individuals to society as a whole.
Research consistently shows that companies with diverse and inclusive cultures perform better, adapt more quickly, and access new markets more effectively. Inclusion is not just a social value: it is a strategic advantage.
IN-KEY addresses this reality by working on both sides of the equation: supporting students in overcoming structural barriers while empowering companies to embrace inclusive practices. In doing so, it creates a more equitable and dynamic ecosystem where talent, in all its diversity, can thrive.
The project will develop the INKEY model, a comprehensive toolkit designed to help companies and universities understand what inclusive international internships look like in practice and how to deliver them. Alongside this, it will produce an Inclusion Toolkit specifically for companies, with guidelines and concrete tools to build more inclusive working environments.
To do this, the project focuses on four main areas:
- The INKEY model and toolkit– a comprehensive framework to raise awareness among companies and universities about inclusive internship practices, including guidelines and concrete tools to build more inclusive working environments.
- The INKEY Quality Label – a certification developed by the University of Lille for companies that demonstrate a genuine commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, serving as a clear signal to students that a company is genuinely ready to welcome them.
- Digital support and an AI chatbot – an AI-powered assistant to guide students throughout their entire mobility journey, alongside an upgraded EU4EU portal with dedicated features for students with additional support needs.
- Skills recognition – a validation framework and open badge system to formally acknowledge the competences acquired during international internships, for all students regardless of their background.
Built for those often left behind
IN-KEY places inclusivity at its core by focusing on three groups of students whose participation in international mobility remains disproportionately low.
The first group includes students facing socio-economic disadvantage: those from low-income families, individuals who must work to support themselves during their studies, and those reliant on social welfare systems who cannot bear the additional costs of living abroad.For these students, financial barriers often make international opportunities simply unattainable.
The second group encompasses students with disabilities or health conditions, whether physical, sensory, intellectual, or psychosocial, who encounter concrete obstacles at every stage of the mobility experience, from access and participation to completion and reintegration.
The third group consists of first-generation migrants, for whom cultural differences and linguistic challenges can create significant barriers, both in accessing internship opportunities and in integrating into new professional environments abroad.
The project recognises that these categories often overlap: a student may simultaneously face economic hardship and a disability, or a migration background combined with a health condition. IN-KEY applies an intersectional approach to ensure that compounded disadvantages are recognised and addressed as a whole, not in isolation.
By addressing the specific needs of these groups, IN-KEY works to ensure that international mobility becomes genuinely inclusive, leaving no talent behind.
The partners behind IN-KEY
IN-KEY brings together six organisations from four European countries. EuGen- European Generation (Italy) coordinates the project, drawing on over a decade of experience managing the EU4EU internship network. Per Formare (Italy) leads capacity building for companies; Campus Iberus (Spain) and ESN (Belgium) cover awareness and support for students and universities; the University of Lille (France) develops the Quality Label; and garageErasmus (Belgium) leads communication and dissemination across Europe.
What comes next
IN-KEY is currently in its early stages, with the coming months marking a crucial phase of development and engagement. Research activities will be launched to better understand existing barriers, alongside the creation of the first toolkits designed to support both students and organisations in fostering inclusive mobility.
At the same time, awareness campaigns will begin, targeting companies and universities across Europe to promote more inclusive practices and broaden access to international opportunities.
The AI chatbot and upgraded digital portal will be developed and tested with a pilot group of students, ensuring that these tools respond effectively to real needs. In parallel, the first Quality Labels will be awarded to companies that successfully complete the certification process, recognising their commitment to inclusive work environments.
Together, these steps lay the foundation for a more accessible and equitable system of international mobility.
If you are a student, a university, or a company passionate about international internships and real inclusion, IN-KEY is building something for you and with you.
A more accessible, fair, and connected way to experience international mobility is on its way. Stay tuned.
