Structure of internships
The curriculum of the Belgian landscape architecture schools includes compulsory internships. Most schools define semesters within the curriculum as practical phases. In Belgium, the internship is seen as a crucial phase in the curriculum of Landscape Architecture. Belgian Universities (Erasmushogeschool Brussel, Hogeschool Gent) require one internship of 14 (Erasmushogeschool Brussel) weeks in the third year of the programme.
Some universities have particular staff responsible for student internships. They manage databases with addresses and information concerning offices (national and international) and placements. In other universities, the students themselves are expected to send direct applications to landscape architects and councils.
Contacts
Lists of most Belgian landscape architecture offices are provided by the national association, BVTL - ABAJP, http://www.bvtl-abajp.org (Belgische Vereniging van Tuinarchitecten en Landschapsarchitecten - Association Belge des Architectes de Jardins et des Architectes Paysagistes). Their website includes a list of landscape offices and their members, with contact details (follow the link vademecum) and the details of the four recognised Belgian schools of landscape architecture Erasmushogeschool Brussel, Department Horteco ; Haute Ecole Lucia de Brouckère, Institut Arthur Haulot ; Institut Supérieur Industriel Huy-Gembloux-Verviers, Haute Ecole Charlemagne ; Hogeschool Gent, Departement BIOT.
Jobs
Unfortunately there is no central display for job adverts, some job adverts and contacts can be found on several homepages of landscape offices and on the jobcentre of the Erasmushogeschool Brussel, Department Horteco (http://www.horteco.be ) ð click on “Vacatures”), unfortunately only some of them are in English, students are expected to have a basic knowledge of Dutch or French. The national organisation (BVTL – ABAJP) doesn’t display job adverts.
Payment
As the internship is regarded as an integral part of the curriculum, the students are usually not paid. When paid, which is depending on the company, you might earn €300 - 400 a month in some cases you will only receive a compensation of costs.
Engala
Engala (Environment and Garden & Landscape Architecture) is a Leonardo da Vinci mobility project focussing on new regulations and interdisciplinary working methods concerning sustainable landscape design and development. Some universities are working out a new programme together with their Socrates/Erasmus contacts. Partner universities will play a crucial role in finding an internship/placement abroad by means of the internship network between partner universities and members of Engala.
Results
Most universities require a written and illustrated report ‘Projects and Office Organisation’ about the student’s office experience and a written comment of the office itself.
How to make an application
Students have a realistic chance to get a job, when they are proactive and send a letter of application with a short curriculum vitae and some examples of drawing work (portfolio). Do address letters personally to an individual in a practice and if going for interview research the practice as much as you can.
Steven Goossens, August 2004