What makes an internship good? It's an opportunity to learn and grow—technically, personally, and entrepreneurially. However, the current system falls short in several areas. In the first part of the series "Horizons of Experience," I shared my experience about my internship abroad. In this second part, I hope to translate my testimony and insights into potential solutions for the frustrations that have arisen along the way regarding the internship system, with a focus on the international internship aspect. An internship reform is needed.
From the organization, I've noticed a reluctance towards international internships. Under the belief that Belgian interns should complete their internships in Belgium to learn about the Belgian work field—logical—it is discouraged to spend part of the internship abroad. This feeling is reinforced during internship events and by the difficulties some of my colleagues have experienced when applying for their international internships. This attitude overlooks a wealth of qualities, knowledge, and perspectives that can enrich our Belgian architects and stimulate innovation. Moreover, this attitude is problematic because the new generation is encouraged to look beyond national borders and explore the international field, both from an academic perspective and by our professional role models. Architecture has indeed become an international endeavor.
The discrepancy between the international encouragement and the organization's internship vision reduces the intern to a victim of a national struggle on the international field. Like canaries, we cross borders, representing our renowned Belgian architecture only to be exploited as modern slaves. The organization is not solely to blame here, but from its position, it could exert more authority to better protect our interns. The organization could take a leading role within Europe in proactively protecting its interns. This does not require a legal framework: a few preventive control mechanisms, such as a simple video call with the internship supervisor about the setup of the internship, would be a significant step forward. If any red flags arise, the organization can always discuss with the intern or refuse the internship on its own initiative. This measure could also be perfectly extended to our Belgian internships. Just because the organization has more leeway and control over the architectural profession within Belgium does not mean that all Belgian internship places are saints. The organization seems to be a cumbersome entity lacking innovative flow. We need an organization that thinks along with the real needs of our young generation of architects. After all, we are the future of our noble profession. I hope that I am wrong here and that the recent developments within the organization in response to the internship debate are not just silencers, but indeed the seeds of better professional conditions. By this, I mean the call to involve interns and architects under 30 in setting policies and thinking about necessary reforms.
As a young intern with international experience, I propose a few easily implementable small solutions, knowing that we are in a larger shift and facing deeper problems (see further):
The international internship should be equated with the Belgian internship within the internship committees. A neutral position should be taken: no discouragement and support for the ambitious architects who choose this path. In practice, this should translate into a few specific control mechanisms that offer similar protection to interns abroad as those in Belgium. One or more video calls at the start/during the internship. This way, the intern comes not only as an individual but as a representative of Belgian architects to learn and should be treated as such. This also provides support for the intern to have difficult conversations. Interns should not be babysat but also not put in a hopeless position due to their status.
There should be a publicly accessible blacklist of non-qualitative internship places, both domestically and internationally. This is an absolute necessity.
The obligation to complete the first 6 months of the internship at the same place must be adjusted. When you have just graduated, you are most vulnerable. The chance of ending up in a bad internship place is highest then. By imposing this term obligation, you penalize the intern who leaves the internship place earlier by losing the months already worked. Time is money, especially when your income depends on the number of approved internship months. Even if you are at a bad internship place, you still learn something about yourself and the profession of architecture. A possible alternative to avoid job-hopping is the obligation to work for 6 months at the same place at any time during the 2-year internship period. Are these months at the beginning? Fine, are they at the end of the 2 years, also fine! If the intern has not worked for 6 consecutive months at the same office after 2 years, the internship is extended until this is the case.
A reform of the conditions for granting the Erasmus+ scholarship. Currently, you must take it fully within the year of graduation. This could be extended to the two years of our mandatory Belgian internship. This would give interns breathing space to first gain practical experience in their familiar Belgian environment and then, when they feel more confident as practicing architects, gain new perspectives abroad.
Some of these reforms touch on the legislative framework of both Belgium and Europe. Certainly, the latter is beyond the organization's control. However, we can take a leading role, urge our national legislators to reform, and from that momentum, set the movement for more qualitative internships across Europe in motion. Time for change with the New European Bauhaus. Europe's fight against unpaid internships has just begun.
On that note, I would like to briefly add something about the much-discussed topic: internship allowances. Although there is already an obligation to pay allowances—no matter how minimal the rates—interns are often willing to work below the rates or even without payment simply because they want to work at a particular office. Despite the commotion around this topic, there doesn't seem to be an immediate solution that the organization, as a control body and manager of internships, can implement. It's up to all of us to take matters into our own hands.
There needs to be a shift in the construction culture. Firstly, through a focus on entrepreneurship. What is good entrepreneurship as an architect? How can I generate enough revenue to pay my interns a living wage? It is not impossible; there are offices that already do it. Professional organizations or universities could offer certain courses on entrepreneurship under the guise of lifelong learning, as well as integrate it into the current academic curriculum. This way, future interns can acquire the economic intelligence to refuse unpaid internships. How can you learn if you are mentally preoccupied with the lack of a living wage and therefore surviving? Secondly, responsibility should also be placed on clients, raising awareness among both private and public clients about the price tag of quality. And that is something the organization can contribute to. Thirdly, the race to the bottom in terms of finances has consequences for the quality of architecture. The last time I checked my construction law course, building was a matter of public order. Reduced quality of buildings is therefore a violation, making it a legal issue. Wake up lawmakers! Time for contemporary interpretations of outdated laws, progressive precedents, and new laws for new situations.
To my fellow architects: we should not compete with each other based on price; our battleground should consist of creativity, passion, and craftsmanship. Or is that just my youthful naivety speaking?
In conclusion: There is work to be done, both for myself and for our sector. I'm ready, are you?
~ Kimberly Wouters, Architect.
More than words: On 24/05/2024, I officially submitted my candidacy to the Provincial Council of Limburg as an intern architect to contribute to developing a policy that provides more support and aligns better with the realities of the professional field.
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