26 January 2026

Do you have an assignment or project that could use some fresh ideas or an extra pair of hands? The LDE Traineeship programme is seeking assignments for first-year trainees starting on 1 September 2026. The trainees are talents who can slot into your team and add value from day one. Submit your assignment by Friday 27 March 2026!

Why a trainee?

Aside from bringing knowledge and skills, trainees see the organisation through fresh eyes. They are independent, enhance your team’s dynamic and, through their training and development programme, learn quickly. See the LDE website for an idea of our current assignments and trainees. See also: 

Rolando Podda, who hosted a trainee, explains:

‘Our decision to take on a trainee for the communication about the new sports centre proved to be a great success. Our reason for submitting an assignment was simple: we faced an ambitious challenge. With the development of the new sports centre, we wanted to develop a positioning strategy that perfectly articulated our mission and vision. The trainee was assigned this task and proved to be an asset to the team. I’d recommend a trainee simply because it takes the pressure off. The trainee has slotted into the team and has significantly increased our output. And they’ve brought new energy and ideas, which support the general team dynamic. If you’re looking for a reliable, hard-working addition to your team, I’d definitely recommend an LDE trainee.’

Jitske Verhagen, a trainee in Leiden in 2026:

‘What I like about the LDE Traineeship is how it has so much to offer both trainees and the teams hiring them. As a trainee, I’m treated no differently from the regular staff in my department and can make a real impact in a short time. This year, I’m working for the Internal Communication department in the Strategic Marketing and Communication directorate, and I have a wide range of tasks and responsibilities. I’m leading a university-wide student communication project, I do editorial work for the staff site and I’m supporting various smaller communication projects. This makes my assignment not just a great learning experience for me but also of value to the team.’

How does it work?

For information about the LDE trainee programme, the assignment requirements and other relevant details, see the Information on LDE Traineeships document (Dutch only). If you have an assignment that fits the brief, submit it by emailing the registration form (Dutch only) to ldetraineeship@bb.leidenuniv.nl by Friday 27 March 2026.