ECN333 Internship in Economics
Credits (ECTS):5
Course responsible:Roberto Javier Garcia
Campus / Online:Taught campus Ås
Teaching language:Engelsk
Limits of class size:There limit on the number of summer internships depends on the ability to find a faculty supervisor. Students can work individually or in pairs as per the contractual arrangement with the external partner organization.
Course frequency:Annually, starting in summer 2023
Nominal workload:125 hours of which: two-thirds of the time is spent on work related to activities on the tasks; and one-third of the time is for preparation of meetings and the final report (and presentation if required).
Teaching and exam period:The internship course is a 4-6 week period during the summer where the student is to be present at the EPO for at least 2 days er week though the internship period.
About this course
The summer internship is a means of demonstrating the relevance of the knowledge and skills from the study program to work life, and for the student to gain work experience in the process. The student will work with an external partner organization (EPO), a private firm or public agency, on an agreed set of work tasks to be performed, the deadlines for deliverables, and the duration of the internship. Through the student's initiative, and with the EPO's guidance and a faculty member's supervision, the student will apply his/her knowledge and skills to address an identified economic problem associated with the EPO's interests.
The course consists of an internship period of 4-6 weeks during the summer where the student is present at the EPO at least two days per week throughout the internship period. There are two aspects associated with the internship for credit:
1. The student must complete the assigned work-related tasks specified in the terms of the internship (e.g., tasks and deliverables); and
2. The student must complete the academic tasks that are specified in the study plan of the internship (if different from the EPO's work-related tasks) developed in collaboration with the academic supervisor (e.g., consultation meetings, interim assignments, and submission of a final project report). An oral presentation of the final report can also be required. These activities require approval by the academic supervisor. Finally, a self-reflection report on what was learned may also be required as well as an evaluation of the experience.
Learning outcome
The student demonstrates the academic relevance of a work-related internship with an external partner organization.
Knowledge:
After completing the internship, the student shall have:
- Gained insight into the daily operations of an external organization, and the practical challenges and opportunities that face it;
- Developed renewed awareness of the relevance of the study program, and the courses and specializations therein, to understand and address a real-world problem through the application of theory and methods to the specific context of the internship.
Skills:
During the internship, the student shall:
- Develop the ability to carry out work tasks as specified in the work plan within the contract with the external organization;
- Gain work experience and demonstrate the ability to work independently on tasks to meet agreed deadlines; and
- Seek out, identify and acquire research-based knowledge that is relevant to practical problem solving.
General competence:
Through the internship, the student shall:
- Improve written and communication skills; and
- Interact with work colleagues and consult with an advisor to solve a problem and reflect on his/his own professional development.
Through the process of entering into a formal agreement with the external partner organization and an faculty supervisor, the student will learn to:
- Prepare a research plan and work independently to carry out the work tasks and submit deliverables as specified in the project description (as per the contractual arrangement with the partner organization and the School);
- Lead informational meetings with the faculty advisor on any assigned interim tasks, as agreed with the advisor; and
- Prepare and deliver a final report that relates the problem of the organization with the skills and knowledge received in coursework and the literature reviewed during the internship.
- The contact person in the external partner organization will oversee day-to-day work tasks related to the organization. The student will follow up with the faculty supervisor at the School of Economics and Business to ensure progress on the interim tasks and the preparation of the final report. The student can expect at least two consultation sessions with the faculty supervisor for a minimum of two hours of supervision. E-mail consultations will also be an appropriate means of communicating with the supervisor and receiving feedback.
The student must have completed one year of their study program under M-ECON or M-ØA.
The student must enter into a contractual relationship with an external partner organization and the School. This implies that the student has been approved to work with the organization and has secured a faculty member who agrees to supervise the academic content of the assignment.
- None.
Submission of the final report (which may include an oral presentation of the project).
Final report accounts for 100% of the grade. Grading is Pass/Fail.
- There is no external sensor per se. The contact person at the external organization must provide a certificate ensuring that the student completed the agreed tasks as specified in the contract. The faculty supervisor must also approve the final report (and presentation if required).
The following are the required stops to arrange a summer internship and earn study credits:
1. The student must find an external partner organization (EPO) that is willing to host and work with student on an agreed set of work tasks to be performed, the deadlines for deliverables, and the duration of the internship, i.e., the terms of the internship. The terms are formulated in collaboration with the EPO's contact person. A form is available from the study advisor to serve as a template.
2. As the terms of the internship are being drafted, the student must find a faculty member who is willing to supervise the "independent study plan" of the internship project, the work that counts toward academic credit. The internship and the project need not be the same, e.g., the tasks required by the EPO need not be sufficiently academic in nature. Thus, the student must demonstrate that there is enough academic relevance for the internship to count toward study points. The study plan, developed in collaboration with the faculty supervisor, provides an overview of the economic problem to address and the relevant literature that is to be consulted to produce a final project report. The study plan can include: scheduled consultation meetings with the supervisor, interim tasks, and the submission of a final project report. An oral presentation of the report may also be required as part of the assignment.
3. When the terms of the internship are agreed and a faculty supervisor approves a study plan for the internship project, the student must enter two contracts. The internship contract is a three-way arrangement that includes the student, the contact at the EPO, and the School. This contract ensures that each party complies with the specified terms of the internship. A second contract is between the student and the supervisor agreeing to the terms of the study plan.
4. Upon satisfactory completion of the internship, the EPO provides certification that the student completed their assigned tasks. This is the first condition to be met for study credit. The second condition is that the student's tasks under the study plan must be approved by the faculty supervisor.
- There are no lectures. The internship is independent, self study with minimal faculty supervision as specified in the study plan.
- M-ECON students are prioritized, but an economics student can work together with an M-ØA student.
- There is no overlap. Could complement ECN305.
- Minimum requirements for entrance to higher education in Norway (generell studiekompetanse)