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2017/2018  BA-BINBV2002U  BSc IB Internship, 15 ECTS

English Title
BSc IB Internship, 15 ECTS

Course information

Language English
Course ECTS 15 ECTS
Type Elective
Level Bachelor
Duration One Semester
Start time of the course Autumn, Spring
Timetable Course schedule will be posted at calendar.cbs.dk
Study board
Study Board for BSc in International Business
Course coordinator
  • Bersant Hobdari - EGB
Main academic disciplines
  • Globalization and international business
  • Organization
  • Strategy
Last updated on 16-08-2017

Relevant links

Learning objectives
To achieve the grade 12, students should meet the following learning objectives with no or only minor mistakes or errors: At the end of the internship you should be able to
  • Apply the knowledge and skills related to the concepts, principles and methodologies of the IB program in a professional setting.
  • Acquire new knowledge in a new setting to enhance classroom education
  • Apply higher order thinking skills, such as critical thinking, analysis, synthesis, evaluation, complex problem solving, to real-life situations
  • Gain practical experience relevant to IB program’s competence profile.
  • Develop personal and interpersonal skills (profession-specific competencies, oral and written communication skills, interpersonal communication and interaction skills, observation and interpretation skills, leadership skills) to work effectively within diverse environments.
  • Critically reflect upon and evaluate the internship experience, especially in relation to the knowledge and competencies gained through the IB program
Course prerequisites
In order to be considered for an internship credit transfer the student must apply for pre-approval. The application for pre-approval must include the following documentation:

1) A formal and signed document by the organization that contains a detailed description of:

• Learning objectives of the internship
• Defined job training areas
• Specification of formalized learning processes (i.e., name and length of structured classes or lectures, or name of the mentor)
• Specification of the time period and working hours of employment

2) A letter of motivation (max. 2 pages) from the student describing what s/he intends to achieve by undertaking the internship and in what way(s) the experience contributes to her/his education under the IB program. This letter of motivation must specify the elements of the IB program that correspond to the job training or formalized learning processes of the internship
Examination
Internship:
Exam ECTS 15
Examination form Home assignment - written product
Individual or group exam Individual exam
Size of written product Max. 10 pages
10 pages
Assignment type Report
Duration Written product to be submitted on specified date and time.
Grading scale 7-step scale
Examiner(s) One internal examiner
Exam period Autumn and Spring, Each student is required to submit an academic report within two weeks upon completion of the internship.
Make-up exam/re-exam
Same examination form as the ordinary exam
Description of the exam procedure

The examination form for this course takes the form of a 10-page, excluding the bibliography and appendices, internship report following the specifications outlined below. The Internship Report must include an outline of the business of the company for which you worked, summarize the work you did, and discuss the specific international business relevant aspects of your work term. The report must demonstrate your ability to communicate what you have done in your internship, it must demonstrate your ability to relate your work to the bigger picture, and it must demonstrate your ability for critical thinking. You have to demonstrate that your internship had a major international business component, or that you are able to relate your work term to international business issues.

Your internship report has to contain three subject areas:

1. Outline of the background and specific business of the company and/or department in which you performed your internship.

2. Outline of the work that you have performed in the company.

3. A discussion of a specific electronic commerce issue related to your internship.

The first two components can be brief. The major focus of the report should be on the third component, the critical discussion and analysis of a specific internship-related topic. We refer to this component as analytical component. The analytical component should relate academic knowledge to practical experience. Its purpose is to help you develop written and analytical skills. You will not only gather information but interpret, organize and present it clearly and understandably.

It is common that the analytic component and the demonstration of the international business focus of the internship is perceived as a major challenge of the internship. However, note that it is well acknowledged that many aspects of your daily work can be praxis oriented rather than academically oriented. It is thus clear that your work might include administrative duties as well as mundane tasks required by your employer. It is, of course, important that you follow the direction of your employer. However, to pass the academic requirements of the internship you must go, if necessary, beyond the following of instructions and demonstrate your ability in critical thinking and the international business field. Thus, the internship report allows you to examine aspects of a project or the organization beyond the work performed by the company. Ideally, the report will be of practical benefit to your employer and demonstrates initiatives beyond your instructed work.

Starting early is the key to producing a high-quality, professional report. Last-minute efforts are reflected in a lack of research and poor quality of writing. While you cannot write your report the first month on the job, you can begin gathering information and outlining your ideas. Once you have chosen a topic, keep a notebook to record your activities related to the report's research - methods, observations, meetings attended. Preparation is an on-going process.

Choosing a subject is a crucial aspect of your success of your internship report. It is sufficient to concentrate on one specific aspect or problem related to your internship, and it is not required that you report in depth on all the projects that you might have encountered during your internship. However, the chosen subject has to be discussed with enough depth, if necessary with efforts beyond your daily work, so that your treatment of the subject demonstrates specialist-level ability in international business. If you doubt your judgment on a topic, you may speak with your company supervisor or contact your faculty advisor.

Grading: In the process of preparing the internship report the student could rely on the role of an advisor chosen on the basis of the international business topic to be discussed in the report. The advisor is involved in discussing the issue formulation and the framing of relation of the practical experience to the international business theories. Each student is entitled to 3 hours of supervision from the advisor. The advisor will be the sole evaluator of the report and will grade the report.

Course content and structure

Internships are an integral part of the BSc IB program. All students are encouraged to arrange internships with companies or organizations of interest. Students must undertake the internship whilst they are still enrolled in the IB program. An internship must involve both on-the-job training and formalized learning processes. Formalized learning processes are defined as either 1) structured classes or lectures taken within or through the organization in which the student undertakes the internship, or 2) supervision provided by a mentor in the organization the student undertakes the internship.

The internship must be taken within an existing organization, such as a company, or governmental or quasi-governmental agencies such as ministries or embassies, or non-governmental organizations, such as the Red Cross etc. Companies or other types of organizations established by the student will not be taken into consideration.

Students need to be hired under a formal contract, which, at the minimum, specifies the period of time the student is hired for and respective working hours. In cases where the student is already employed by the organization and wants to transform the contract into an internship program, documentation signed by representatives of the organization must be submitted to prove that job-functions new to the student are established in relation to the internship program, or that formalized learning processes will be initiated.

The job-training areas and the formalized work experiences in terms of academic content must correspond to the curriculum and learning objectives of the BSc IB program.

Teaching methods
Supervision hours.
Feedback during the teaching period
The student can get feedback from the internship supervisor.
Student workload
Exam 0,5 hours
Preparation 203 hours
Further Information

The application for pre-approval must be sent to the BSc IB Program Administration prior to having begun the internship. The final decision on the pre-approval application rests with the Course Coordinator. Applications must be submitted well ahead of time of the start of the internship to allow for the Course Coordinator to make an informed decision. In terms of the internship application itself, students are recommended to follow the deadlines stipulated by individual organizations. As already stressed, arranging for an internship remains the individual responsibility of the student, not CBS or the BSc IB. Students are also individually responsible for obtaining work permits and any other documentation necessary to undertake employment in the country in which the internship will be conducted.

Please look at the internship guidelines for further information.

Last updated on 16-08-2017