This toolkit looks at staff exchanges as a powerful professional and personal development tool. It offers tips and food for thought for all organisations interested in offering or upgrading opportunities for professional mobility via staff exchanges.
The toolkit was developed by On the Move as a complement to a multiyear research on the impact of BECC, the ENCC’s flagship staff exchange and training programme, which has been running since 2008. Starting from the conclusions of that research, author Maïa Sert compared BECC to other staff exchange programmes from the cultural sector (especially in cultural networks), to map the different paths and choices that can be taken in designing and developing that type of programme.
Who is this publication for ? Cultural and other non-profit organisations, working on creating, developing or transforming a learning/mobility programme that can maximise short- and long-term professional and personal benefits for the participants.
BECC (Bridge Between European Cultural Centres), the ENCC’s flagship staff exchange and training
programme, runs yearly for young cultural workers from ENCC membership and beyond and offers international work experience and a European perspective.
On the Move, producer of the BECC impact research project and this toolkit, was founded in 2002. It provides information on cultural mobility that is clear, up-to-date, and always free to use. On The Move has also collaborated with the ENCC on two previous toolkits: The BECC toolkit for cultural centres professionals and not only! and The Evaluation Journey: A Toolkit for Cultural Operators.
Maïa Sert works in the field of intercultural cooperation in France and internationally. She has been a passionate advocate for staff exchange programmes since her first Paris-based job in 2009, where she benefitted from two exchange opportunities in Indonesia and Mexico. From setting up EU-funded projects for venues and festivals to promoting international cultural mobility and working with cultural third places, Maïa is a lifelong learner, with strengths in cocreation and evaluation.
