Deforestation and forest degradation are major drivers of climate change and biodiversity loss. In 2022, the EU reached a pivotal agreement on the European Regulation on Deforestation-free Products (EUDR), a law designed to prevent companies from introducing, exporting, and trading commodities associated with deforestation and forest degradation into or out of the EU market. To manage their value chain and prevent contributing to deforestation, companies need the proper knowledge and skills.
What is EMMA4EU?
EMMA4EU, the Innovation alliance for training programmes for deforestation-free supply chains in Europe, is an initiative co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme. It aims to promote EUDR implementation by developing innovative training for deforestation-free supply chains in Europe. Its ultimate goal is to facilitate knowledge exchange and create a new professional role: the Deforestation-Free Supply Chains Manager.
Specialisation School: EMMA4EU Pro
To develop the proper knowledge and skills to lead deforestation-free supply chains properly, we have designed an 8-week Specialization Program: EMMA4EU Pro, which will consist of a four-week specialization school at the University of Padova and a four-week-long internship.
This programme aims to train 25 participants in relevant topics on deforestation-free supply chains and support them in developing and implementing their DFSC projects.
Open call for companies
The Specialization school will transition into a (voluntary) internship program in the student’s home country. That’s why we are seeking public and private organisations that work with forest-risk commodities, such as soy, palm oil, beef and leather, wood, cocoa, coffee, and rubber, and are interested in hosting an intern on deforestation-free supply chain management.
The internship will be organized between September 2025 and the 10th of January 2026. During the internship, students will have the opportunity to apply their newly acquired skills in practice, thereby consolidating them and contributing to improved employability upon completion of the project.
The minimum duration of the internship is 70 hours, but it can be longer than four weeks if both intern and hosting organization agree. The internship, or part of it, can be organized remotely, if necessary.
Why host an intern?
- Fresh perspectives from academia: Access up-to-date debates and developments to inspire your work.
- Talent pipeline: Assess a potential future employee within your team and organisation.
- Cost-effective research support: Assign focused, research-based tasks on one or two priority topics and receive in-depth findings.
- Additional capacity: Strengthen your team during peak periods or for special projects.
- Staff development: Give employees opportunities to build leadership and mentoring skills.
- Strategic partnerships: Open doors to collaboration with academic and research institutions and sector stakeholders.
Host organisation responsibilities
The agreement involves the sending institution (EMMA4EU’s partner university), the receiving organisation (host company), and the trainee. The main responsibilities for the host organisation are to:
- Agree on an Internship Programme with the student that applies learning in real-world settings and builds competences relevant to their professional profile.
- Nominate a tutor within the organisation to support the trainee, facilitate onboarding and ongoing activities, and supervise progress against agreed objectives and topics.
- Sign an Internship Agreement with the trainee covering all aspects of the programme.
- Co-operate with the sending institution to address any issues and promptly report any accidents, problems, or difficulties involving the trainee.
- Complete an Internship Report, including a timesheet of internship hours, and the Internship Questionnaire.
Are you interested in hosting an internship?
Write an email to our supporting staff from the University of Padova indicating your company name, country and sector to receive all the information needed for the process.
Giovanni Bausano | giovanni.bausano@unipd.it
