Internships & curriculum
The internships play a valuable role in JPs for several reasons:
- Internships provide students with the opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge gained in the classroom to real-world situations.
- Internships offer a platform for students to develop and enhance their technical skills, communication skills, and problem-solving abilities in a professional setting.
- Internships allow students to build professional networks within their field of study and to explore specific industries or sectors related to their field of study. In some cases, internships can also serve as a pathway to full-time employment. While increasing the employability of the future graduates, internships also connect the universities offering the JP to professionals. International students see this possibility as important for their integration into the local job market in a foreign country.
- Internships can help students to clarify their career goals. Feedback and evaluations from supervisors can be valuable for personal and professional growth and to understand one’s strengths and areas for improvement.
The following check-list should be considered in the planning phase of JP if internships are planned to be part of the curriculum:
- The scope of internship(s): ECTS credits and what is required from student to get the credits (full-time/part time working, reporting, etc)
- The timing of the internship: when is it possible for a student to complete the internship (during the academic year or during the academic break)
- Paid/non-paid positions? Can students get a salary during the internship (national or university rules apply)?
- Support services for students: what are the available services for students to find and apply for suitable positions?
- Especially international students might need extra support as they don’t have existing networks and no experience for applying for a job in foreign country
- Match-making of the student/position: students apply for any jobs/internships available or the programme is responsible for finding positions and matching the students with companies?
- Is there any specific criteria related to internships or any study related job is acceptable?
- Are there any specific regulations related to the location of the internship (in residence country of the students or abroad)/Any possible restrictions related to scholarships and the location of internship
- If internship includes additional mobility during the JP, are the costs covered by the student or JP?
- If the internship is compulsory, how to ensure that all students of JP will find the internship position in due time?
The planning of integration of internship into curriculum is highly recommended. See chapter “Curriculum design” link.
Case example 1
Internship in SECCLO (Erasmus Mundus) programme (2-5 ECTS)
Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s call for applications emphasize the connections to the world of work and employability of the participating students.
A case example on implementation of “internship” in SECCLO Master’s programme in Security and Cloud Computing, coordinated by Aalto University. Between the first and second academic year, students will complete an internship in an European industry or research institution. In the SECCLO programme, “internship” means summer job, not a final master’s thesis which is another study module in the programme curriculum.
As background Degree regulations for Bachelors and Master’s degree at Aalto University (https://www.aalto.fi/en/applications-instructions-and-guidelines/degree-regulations-for-bachelors-and-masters-degrees): “The bachelor’s degree may incorporate a work placement (practical training), whose content and scope is specified in the curriculum” and “The master’s degree may incorporate a work placement (practical training), whose content and scope is specified in the curriculum.” The general rule for Master’s degree programme in Computer, Communications and Information Sciences at Aalto is the following: the work experience that relates to the field of study student may receive 1-10 ECTS which can be included in the elective studies. In SECCLO-programme curriculum, the scope of practical training/internship is fixed to 2-5 ECTS and it is a mandatory part of the SECCLO first year curriculum. During the internship, the student will work in a real R&D environment or expert organization as a member of a project team. The duration of the internship is at least one month but typically three months maximum. A 10-week internship that meets the programme requirements results in 5 ECTS. The students apply independently for jobs they are interested in.
The learning goals of the internship are the following:
● Students will gain experience of working in an R&D environment or expert organisation in Europe.
● Students will develop personal contacts in European industry and research institutions.
● Students will become familiar with several career path options available to them.
● Students will learn how to apply for a job in industry, including preparing an application letter and professional CV, and taking part in an internship interview.
SECCLO associate member companies and organisations are invited to inform the students on the available internship positions and/or students can look for jobs elsewhere too. After completion of the internship, the student submits a reflective free-form report (1-2 pages) with a certificate from the employer. Calculation of credits: two weeks of working full-time equals one ECTS (part-time job: one ECTS equals 80 hours of work).
The reflective report questions:
● What skills did your duties require?
● How did you benefit from the knowledge and skills gained during your studies?
● What new skills did you acquire?
● What development areas you now find in your skills based on your work experience (e.g. skills related to the substance of your field, communication skills, language skills)?
● How are you planning to develop these areas during your studies?
● How was the work experience relevant to your plans for the future (which direction you want to develop professionally, what do you want to achieve in your career, what kinds of matters and duties you find interesting)?
● What ideas for development do you have concerning your work duties in light of the things you have studied so far?
Case example 2
Internship in FAME+ (Erasmus Mundus) programme (8 ECTS)
All FAME+ M1 students will be proposed to perform their internship in a company, of ca. 3 months, equivalent to 8 ECTS credits. The negotiation of the internship agreement (under the supervision of one of the partners) is part of the work of the student, as it is extremely formative. Students in both Grenoble and Darmstadt will have to perform this internship during (at the end of) the second semester of M1. In addition, master theses in companies are possible for all FAME+ students, provided they correspond to a high-quality work performed at the limits of knowledge. Companies which have already supervised a FAME master thesis are indicated below, demonstrating feasibility. The list will be complemented depending on opportunities and students interest, based on the many industrial contacts of the partner universities. Specific rules for selection of a master thesis in a company will be written by each partner according to local regulations. In all cases, a report on the internship will be prepared and graded, incorporating a section dedicated to a critical evaluation of the working of the host company (details as to the structure of the report may vary from partner to partner).
List of companies having already accepted FAME students:
AGC (BE), CerTech (BE), IMEC (BE), Nanocyl (BE), Rossignol (FR), TNO (BE), Umicore (BE), BIOMET-SAS (FR), Volvo Group Trucks Technology - Renault Trucks (FR), CEA –LETI (FR), CEA – LITEN (FR), Saint-Gobain C.R.E.E (FR), Robert Bosch GmbH - Diesel and Gasoline Systems (GE), APERAM (FR), Constellium Technology Center (FR), AIR LIQUIDE E&C Solutions (FR), Safran Snecma, Vernon (FR), Fraunhofer Institut ICT(GE), ESRF(FR), ST MICROELECTRONICS ROUSSET(FR), THEVA Dünnschichttechnik GmbH (GE).
Internships and Master theses supervisors and tutors are also surveyed. The evaluation, in addition to a general appreciation of the trainee and of his/her work takes into account the following criteria:
● general behaviour (punctuality, self-control, motivation, clarity of expression),
● scientific aptitudes (application of theoretical knowledge, quality of work, creativity, open-mindness, curiosity),
● integration of the student in the company (critical spirit, objectivity, aptitude to tackle a concrete problem, sociability, team spirit and sense of responsibility)
● and final report (clarity and style, quality of results and their interpretation, usability of the project in the company).