Internship
As the world is "becoming smaller and smaller", it has become crucial for a student to partecipate in an international programme. This article features a list of the major opportunities provided by most of the European Universities:
Student Exchange Programme
A student exchange program is a program in which a student, typically in secondary or higher education, chooses to live in a foreign country to learn more, among other things, about language and culture. Students live with a host family, who are usually unpaid volunteers and can be a traditional family, a single parent, or a couple with no children at home. Host families are vetted by the organization co-ordinating the program.
ERASMUS Programme
The ERASMUS programme, or European Region Action Scheme for the Mobility of University Students, is a European student exchange programme established in 1987.
It has become a cultural phenomenon and is very popular among European students. The University provides exchanges for students based on bilateral agreements with other Universities in Europe.
Erasmus has two specific objectives:
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to support the realisation of a European Higher Education Area;
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to reinforce the contribution of higher education and advanced vocational education to process of innovation
Six operational objectives:
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to improve the quality and the volume of students and teaching staff mobility throughout Europe, so as to contribute to the achievement by 2012 of at least 3 million individual participants in student mobility under the Erasmus and its predecessor programmes;
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to improve the quality and to increase the volume of multilateral cooperation between higher education institutions in Europe;
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to increase the degree of transparency and compatibility between higher education and advanced vocational education qualifications gained in Europe;
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to improve the quality and to increase the volume of cooperation between higher education institutions and enterprises;
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to facilitate the development of innovative practices in education and training at tertiary level, and their transfer, including from one participating country to others;
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to support the development of innovative ICT-based content, services, pedagogies and practice for lifelong learning.
Double Degrees Programme
A double degree program involves a student working for two different university degrees in parallel, either at the same institution or at different institutions (sometimes in different countries), completing them in less time than it would take to earn them separately. The two degrees might be in the same subject area (especially when the course is split between countries), or in two different subjects. Undergraduate double-degree programs are more common in some countries than others, and are generally found in countries whose higher-education systems follow the British model. Master's double-degree programs are more wide-spread. Interest in double-degree programs between member nations has spread in the European Union, as the gaining of qualifications from more than one country is seen as an advantage in the European labour market. Typically in a double-degree program both of the participating institutions reduce the amount of time required.
CEMS
The CEMS Master in International Management (CEMS MIM) is a one-year degree programme taught jointly by CEMS business schools and universities available to a select group of students at the member institutions. Consistently high rankings in the Financial Times, it has been consistently ranked in the top 3 over the past 4 years, best value for money 4 years in a row, best combined international results in 2008. The aim of CEMS is to set a global standard of excellence for pre-experience Master's programmes in Management, providing education and research for students who aspire to play a leading role in the development and direction of enterprises in a global context.
These individuals will be outstanding in their:
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high academic standards and professional skills
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ability to perform effectively in a fast changing environment
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empathy with different cultures, values and behaviours
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willingness to take responsibility within society
The CEMS MIM consists of a base semester (usually part of the standard degree at the home university) followed by a second semester spent abroad in a fellow CEMS member school. In addition to completing ones home degree graduation from the CEMS also requires successful completion of a business project, skill seminars, an international internship, and 3 language exams. While the CEMS MIM is a high-quality academic degree, the uniqueness of the CEMS MIM thus lies in its additional focus on practical business skills, language proficiency and early international experience.
Every CEMS academic member has a limited amount of places available for CEMS MIM students. Therefore the selection procedure is tough. In most cases business schools and universities have pre-requirements to be accepted in the selection procedure. Examples include a high grade average and proof of language skills.
International Internship
These international internship programs allow students and graduates to put their academic knowledge into practice, to enjoy a stimulating experience in a multicultural environment and to make useful contacts for their present studies and future careers. Many students do internships abroad to get international experience and learn an extra language. The structure of an international internship can be different around the globe. University staff give students access to vacancies and students apply directly to employers. Some Universities hold fairs and exhibitions to encourage students to consider the option of doing an internsip abroad and to enable students to meet potential employers. In the modern labour market graduates with work experience in the form of sandwich placements are not only deemed more desirable to employers but also research has demonstrated that they attain higher level degree classification than graduates without such experience.
For further information visit:
Internship International homepage
