The Project: Coaching tools for internship coordinators – INOV Contacto Program
AICEP – Portuguese Agency for Investment and Foreign Trade, promoter of the INOV Contacto Program, one of the largest international internship programs in Portugal, which each year allows hundreds of talented young people to start their careers in companies and organizations in strategic markets, gaining real experience in multicultural contexts.
A public organization with nearly 500 employees, AICEP is continuously committed to the development of its professionals and the training of all those involved in monitoring interns, particularly coordinators, who play a key role in the success of this transformative experience.
The Challenge
In a context of increasing global demands, AICEP opted for coaching tools to train internship coordinators to accompany young people more closely, promoting the development of skills, autonomy, and responsibility, so that each intern could make the most of this transformative experience.
The main challenges included:
- Supporting the cultural and professional adaptation of interns, often in demanding multicultural environments;
- Improving the quality of feedback and the motivational skills of coordinators;
- Equipping coordinators with practical coaching techniques that would enable them to deal with challenging situations and conflicts, promoting the autonomy of young people;
- Reinforcing the image of the INOV Contacto Program as a benchmark for quality in the integration of young talent into the global business world.
Psicotec’s Approach
Psicotec, with recognized experience in training and developing leadership and coaching skills, designed a tailor-made solution, combining theory, practice, and real-world application, structured as follows:
- Modular structure of the program
- Total duration: 20 hours (2 sessions of 8 hours + 1 session of 4 hours) spread over 3 weeks, interspersed with a period of practical application.
- Active methodology: learning through practice, group dynamics, role-playing, real case studies, and continuous feedback.
- Learning objectives. Throughout the program, coordinators received training to:
- Apply coaching techniques in the monitoring of international interns.
- Facilitate cultural adaptation and professional integration.
- Promote autonomy and a productive learning environment.
- Use practical tools to address inter cultural challenges and conflicts.
- Integrate coaching as a continuous development strategy within INOV Contacto.
- Program content: The modules addressed essential topics such as an introduction to coaching for supervising international internships, active listening techniques, questions and feedback, developing skills in real contexts, intercultural coaching, simulated practices, and practical implementation in the internship program.
- Individual action plan: Each coordinator developed a personalized action plan to ensure the immediate application of the skills acquired in their daily work, promoting sustainable learning.
Results and Impact
- 100% of participants acknowledged that the course fully met their expectations and objectives, promoting the development of their skills for more effective monitoring of interns.
- 100% considered the content to be highly relevant and appropriate to the real context of international internships, which strengthened the coordinators’ ability to enhance the interns’ experience and contribute to the growth of the entities involved.
- Participants particularly valued the practical application, the exchange of real experiences, and the atmosphere of trust that was created, which encouraged the exchange of best practices and the continuous improvement of their coordination functions.
This project strengthened the internal network of coordinators, promoted a more humane and effective approach to supervision, and consolidated the INOV Contacto Program as a unique professional growth experience for young people.
Psicotec: your partner for international talent development
The collaboration between AICEP and Psicotec demonstrates that investing in coaching tools applied to intern management is essential to ensure that every young person can reach their full potential, even in complex, multicultural, and challenging contexts.
At Psicotec, we continue to stand alongside visionary organizations that know that accompanying, motivating, and inspiring are essential skills for a more prepared and global future. We are ready to co-create customized, practical, and impactful solutions so that each coordinator can be a true mentor and each intern can have an unforgettable experience.
“Because when we invest in people, we invest in the future.”
