Individual internship at a company or an organisation
Because you do this internship instead of a think tank, you will work on the same learning objectives as during the think tank (see table below). This means that during your internship you will primarily work on a societal issue of that organisation or company that is related to the theme of the minor. Think for example about the question of an association on how to become more inclusive (for the minor Gender) or an organisation or company that wonders how receptive multilingualism can be used in their organisation/company (Multilingualism in Europe). For inspiration on relevant societal issues within your minor, take a look at the course description of the think tank.
You spend 280 hours on the individual internship - just as you would on the think tank. This includes drawing up and working on the project plan, the portfolio and the final product. The ratio of working in the company or organisation vs. working on your project plan may vary per student, but when talking to the company make sure that you get to spend at least 70% of the 280 hours on the societal issue.
Please note: There are entry requirements for the think tank:
- Thematic minor: You must pass the theme course to be able to participate in the think tank or to start with the internship instead of the think tank.
- Study Abroad: You must pass the course Study abroad: Academia & Society to be able to participate in the Think tank: Study Abroad or to start with the internship instead of the think tank.
Checklist:
- With my intended internship, can I achieve all the learning objectives listed in the table under Individual internship?
- Does the societal issue and the research question that I will be working on during my internship fit with the theme of the minor?
- Does the scope of my internship (including completion) amount to 280 hours?
If you can answer these three questions with 'yes', then your intended internship meets the most important criteria.
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Think tank |
Individual internship |
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Afterwards you can: |
…divide roles and duties within a group and work together constructively |
… divide roles and duties within a team and work together constructively |
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…translate a societal question into a project plan for academic research |
… translate a societal question into a project plan for academic research |
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…present the outcome of the research in a clear and societally relevant way |
… present the outcome of the research in a clear and societally relevant way |
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…reflect on the group and research process |
…reflect on working in an organisation and on the research process |
Time schedule
If you want to do an individual internship instead of a think tank you need the approval of the examination board. Make sure to send in your request at least 6 weeks before the start of the internship. In most cases this means that for an internship during the first semester you need to submit your request around 15 July. For an internship in the second semester you need to submit the request around 15 December.
More information about the procedure of finding an internship and the request to the examination board can be found on the website of Career Service.
Completion
- Project plan & portfolio
Just as in the think tank, you work on a complex issue during the internship. To make sure that such a project succeeds, a project plan is used to provide insight into which steps the project consists of: what needs to be done and when?
All parts of the societal issue you will be working on can be a subproject. For example, the evaluation of the entire project is usually a separate sub-project, but finding and analyzing relevant literature is sometimes a subproject in itself and other times part of various subprojects. When working on a project basis, it is important that the objectives of each subproject are agreed upon, when they are to be achieved (time schedule) and what is needed for this. Keep in mind that the project plan is a dynamic document, which will need to be adjusted and adapted while working on it.
The documentation that shows that you have taken a step or completed a product/subproject is bundled in a portfolio, which you work on during your internship and which forms the basis for consultation with your university supervisor.
Formats are available for both the project plan and the time schedule:
- Final product
With the help of the project plan and the subprojects, you will ultimately come up with an answer to the societal issue which you then need to present in a clear and for your company or organisation relevant way. It can take the form of a proposal based on literature and additional research (in the field), an advice or a plan of approach, but other forms are also possible.
Assessment
Because in the individual internship (just like in the think tank), the process of cooperation, problem exploration and development of a final product is at least as important as the result itself, the internship will be assessed with a pass/fail. You will not get a grade.