The Internship represents a key to access the world of work with which you can experience "in the field" the notions learned and evaluate the real motivation with respect to a professional role, and represents an opportunity for professional and personal growth to complete and improve your study curriculum, complementary to the classroom learning process and individual study.
It is, therefore, a period of experimentation that allows the student to verify the connection between the knowledge acquired at the university and its application within individual organizations.
Università Cattolica has understood the value of this tool, including it in most of its degree programmes and awarding training credits for the achievement of the degree.
The methods for awarding credits and their number vary according to the provisions of the individual Faculties and Degree Programmes.
What is the internship
The internship represents a key to access the world of work with which you can experience "in the field" the notions learned and evaluate the real motivation with respect to a professional role. It represents an opportunity for professional and personal growth to complete and improve one's curriculum, complementary to the classroom learning process and individual study.
It is, therefore, a period of experimentation that allows the student to verify the connection between the knowledge acquired at the university and its application within individual organizations.
Internship Tutor Reference
Dr. Angela Moscovio
Office hours: Remotely and electronically. To make an appointment, please contact the Tutor by email.
Contact details: angela.moscovio-tutor@unicatt.it
Internship Specific Details
- Duration: The period ranges between two and three months (between 160 and 320 hours).
- Compulsory/non-obligatory nature of the internship:
For students in the International Relations and Institutions curriculum and in the Institutions, Governance and Public Policy curriculum, an internship is not compulsory.
Students can request the recognition, within the 12 ECTSfor elective training activities, of an internship of their own proposal, lasting between two and three months (between 160 and 320 hours), which entitles them to acquire 3 ECTS. The proposed internship must include tasks related to the training course. An initial assessment of the suitability of the proposed internship is given by the tutor. In case of uncertainty, the tutor will inform the tutoring committee, which will issue a final judgment. The internship cannot take place in the employ of parents or relatives. - N° ECTS assigned to the internship: 3 ECTS
- How to assign ECTS and indications for the final report:
For the recognition of the internship, within one month after the end of the internship, the student is required to send the following documents by e-mail to the internship tutor:
Internship activation procedure
To activate the curricular internship with ECTS, it is necessary to access http://step.unicatt.it/
Before starting the internship, the student must explain to the internship tutor the timing, methods, contents and tasks of the internship. Once you have received confirmation from the Tutor, you will be able to start the activation procedure.
What is the difference between curricular internships and extracurricular internships?
The curricular internship is carried out during the period of study (it can be with ECTS or with zero ECTS), while an extracurricular internship means an internship for graduates.
Who should I contact to obtain ECTS?
It is necessary to contact your university internship tutor who, once the necessary documents have been obtained, will start the process of recognition of ECTS.
Is it possible to carry out an internship abroad?
Yes, it is possible to carry out an internship abroad. The administrative management of internships abroad is the responsibility of the International Development Area, wea@unicatt.it, while the internship tutor remains the reference for the recognition of ECTS (see attachment).
Is there a financial recognition (allowance) for the curricular internship?
The allowance is at the discretion of the host institution.
Is it always possible to interrupt the internship?
Yes, it is possible via the interruption request on the step.unicatt.it portal. Since this is a curricular internship with ECTS, in the event of interruption, it is necessary to promptly notify the university tutor. Subsequently, the host institution must send an e-mail to stage-mi@unicatt.it, cc angela.moscovio-tutor@unicatt.it, indicating the student's name and surname, matriculation number, reason for the interruption, last actual day of internship.
Is it possible to replace the internship with an elective exam?
It is possible to replace the internship with an activity deemed suitable by the Faculty. Please read the attached regulations and consult the Faculty website.
Is it possible to change the duration of a curricular internship?
Yes, the internship can be extended by submitting the extension request via the step.unicatt.it portal. If you intend to renew it for a longer period, you must include a new training project (zero ECTS curricular internship).
Is a part-time internship possible?
Yes, the modalities are agreed with the host institution, as long as the number of hours provided for by the Faculty regulations is reached.
Is it possible to replace the internship with a foreign language course?
No, foreign language courses are not a valid alternative to internships.
Is it possible to activate more than one stage?
Yes. As long as you are a student, you can activate more curricular internships but only one will be considered suitable for obtaining the 3 ECTS.
In my study plan there is no possibility to choose an internship. What am I to do?
In the study plan of third-year students of the curricula in Institutions and International Relations and Institutions, Governance and Public Policies there is the possibility of obtaining 12 ECTS with educational activities chosen by the student. If you intend to activate an internship, the 3 ECTS must be recognized among those activities. It is necessary to make contact with the internship tutor.
What is the internship
The internship represents a key to access the world of work with which you can experience "in the field" the notions learned and evaluate the real motivation with respect to a professional role. It represents an opportunity for professional and personal growth to complete and improve one's curriculum, complementary to the classroom learning process and individual study.
It is, therefore, a period of experimentation that allows the student to verify the connection between the knowledge acquired at the university and its application within individual organizations.
Internship Tutor Reference
- Dr. Angela Moscovio
- Office hours: Remotely and electronically. To make an appointment, please contact the Tutor by email.
- Contact details: angela.moscovio-tutor@unicatt.it
Internship Specific Details
- Duration: The period is between two and three months (between 160 and 320 hours).
- Compulsory/non-obligatory nature of the internship:
For students in the International Relations and Institutions curriculum and the Institutions, Governance and Public Policy curriculum, an internship is not compulsory.
Students can request the recognition, within the 12 ECTS for elective training activities, of an internship of their own proposal, lasting between two and three months (between 160 and 320 hours), which entitles them to acquire 3 ECTS. The proposed internship must include tasks related to the training course. An initial assessment of the suitability of the proposed internship is given by the tutor. In case of uncertainty, the tutor will inform the tutoring committee, which will issue a final judgment. The internship cannot take place in the employ of parents or relatives. - N° ECTS assigned to the internship: 3 ECTS
- How to assign ECTS and indications for the final report:
For the recognition of the internship, within one month after the end of the internship, the student is required to send the following documents by e-mail to the internship tutor:
Internship activation procedure
To activate the curricular internship with ECTS, it is necessary to access http://step.unicatt.it/
Before starting the internship, the student must explain timing, methods, contents and tasks of the internship to the internship tutor. Once you have received confirmation from the Tutor, you will be able to start the activation procedure.
What is the difference between curricular internships and extracurricular internships?
The curricular internship is carried out during the period of study (it can be with ECTS or with zero ECTS), while an extracurricular internship means an internship for graduates.
Who should I contact to obtain ECTS?
It is necessary to contact your university internship tutor who, once the necessary documents have been obtained, will start the process of recognition of ECTS.
Is it possible to carry out an internship abroad?
Yes, it is possible to carry out an internship abroad. The administrative management of internships abroad is the responsibility of the International Development Area, wea@unicatt.it, while the internship tutor remains the reference for the recognition of ECTS (see attachment).
Is there a financial recognition (allowance) for the curricular internship?
The allowance is at the discretion of the host institution.
Is it always possible to interrupt the internship?
Yes, it is possible via the interruption request on the step.unicatt.it portal. Since this is a curricular internship with ECTS, in the event of interruption, it is necessary to promptly notify the university tutor. Subsequently, the host institution must send an e-mail to stage-mi@unicatt.it, cc angela.moscovio-tutor@unicatt.it, indicating the student's name and surname, matriculation number, reason for the interruption, last actual day of internship.
Is it possible to replace the internship with an elective exam?
It is possible to replace the internship with an activity deemed suitable by the Faculty. Please read the attached regulations and consult the Faculty website.
Is it possible to change the duration of a curricular internship?
Yes, the internship can be extended by submitting the extension request via the step.unicatt.it portal. If you intend to renew it for a longer period, you must include a new training project (zero ECTS curricular internship).
Is a part-time internship possible?
Yes, the modalities are agreed with the host institution, as long as the number of hours provided for by the Faculty regulations is reached.
Is it possible to replace the internship with a foreign language course?
No, foreign language courses are not a valid alternative to internships.
Is it possible to activate more than one stage?
Yes. As long as you are a student, you can activate more curricular internships but only one will be considered suitable for obtaining the 3 ECTS.
In my study plan there is no possibility to choose an internship. What am I to do?
In the study plan of third-year students of the curricula in Institutions and International Relations and Institutions, Governance and Public Policies there is the possibility of obtaining 12 ECTS with educational activities chosen by the student. If you intend to activate an internship, the 3 ECTS must be recognized among those activities. It is necessary to make contact with the internship tutor.
Curriculum in Cooperation Institutions and Organisations
What is Internship
The curricular internship with ECTS is a training experience carried out within an organization that operates in development cooperation or in a related field (e.g. reception of migrants and refugees, social inclusion, environmental sustainability) that involves the student in the performance of tasks of a technical nature. The internship represents a unique experience for the student through which to acquire fundamental professional skills for access to the world of work. The internship can take place in Italy or abroad.
Internship Tutor References
We inform you that for the A.Y. 2023 - 2024 the internship tutors will be:
- Alessandro Toso e-mail: alessandro.toso@unicatt.it
- Ana Cecilia Rivera Alvarado e-mail: anacecilia.riveraalvarado@unicatt.it
For general information on internships and vacancies available, you can contact the tutors for an interview via skype by appointment via email. At the moment, in-person office hours remain suspended.
Internship Specific Details
- Duration: minimum 160 hours to be carried out in a minimum of 2 months for internships in Italy; minimum 160 hours to be carried out in at least in 1 month for internships abroad.
- Compulsory: the internship is compulsory, however there are alternative ways to obtain the relevant ECTS (see FAQ)
- N° of ECTS assigned to the internship: 3
- Method of awarding ECTS: within 1 month after the end of the internship, the student is required to send a report on the experience to the tutor. If the report is approved, the tutor will ask the secretariat to credit the ECTS. The instructions for preparing the report are contained in the attached file.
- Internship application forms: to apply for an internship proposal, you may send your CV and motivational letter to the tutor
Internship activation procedure
Procedure for the activation of curricular internships with ECTS
Where can I consult the internship proposals made available by the Faculty?
All information on internship offers and how to apply for internships is available on the Blackboard Community (http://blackboard.unicatt.it) "CURRICULAR INTERNSHIPS COOPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT". All students automatically have access to the area. In case of problems, it is possible to access it by writing to the internship tutor.
If I have already accredited an internship, can I do a second one?
The opportunity to compete for the various internship offers is given to all students and in a priority way to those who have yet to obtain the 3 ECTS. Only if there are no other candidates for the same position will access be given to students who have already obtained the 3 ECTS related to the curricular internship and who intend to carry out a further experience.
Is it possible to find an internship independently outside of those offered by the faculty?
Yes, it is possible as long as the internship complies with the minimum duration and involves the performance of technical-professional tasks and related to the training course.
It is always necessary to contact the tutor who will establish an initial judgment on the suitability of the tasks. In case of uncertainty, the tutor will inform the coordinating professor of the degree programme who will issue a final judgment.
The internship will be credited after the approval by the tutor of the report on the internship carried out to be sent to the tutor within 1 month after the end of the experience.
The internship must not take place in the employ of parents or a relative and must take place regularly at the headquarters of the institution or company.
Is it possible to replace the internship with an elective exam?
Yes. The student can replace the internship by attending and passing the relevant exam in one of the following laboratories:
- Laboratory on Data Analysis and Management for Development;
- Workshop on Ethics in Business - Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow: CSR and Sustainability;
- Workshop on Development and Cooperation Paths in Latin America;
- Workshop on Strategies for the management of the reception of migrants and refugees.
In this case, the student will not interface with the internship tutor. The chosen laboratory will be included in the study plan, which will be validated by the secretariat instead of the internship with the accreditation of the relevant 3 ECTS.
Please note: in order to count as an internship, the laboratory must be in addition to those already previously included in the study plan.
Is it possible to recognise work experience instead of an internship?
Yes, it is possible as long as the work activity for which the request for recognition is submitted, which entitles you to acquire 3 ECTS, has the following characteristics:
- Must have taken place for at least 2 months, for a minimum number of 160 hours
- It must include tasks related to the educational path undertaken by the student
- Must be carried out during the period of university studies
- Must not have been subject to previous applications for recognition
- It must not be carried out in the employ of parents or a relative
For the recognition of ECTS, the student is required to send the following documents to the tutor:
- written report by the student about the experience
- Letter on the company's letterhead (signed by the owner) indicating the duration of the work experience and the tasks performed
Is it possible to replace the internship with participation in one of the international programs offered by the University?
The 3 ECTS can also be obtained through participation in one of the international programmes offered by other University structures (International Service, University Centre for International Solidarity and Pastoral Centre) provided that:
- have some relevance to the study plan
- provide for the performance of tasks of a technical nature
- last at least 1 month
The student is required to communicate in time and before departure to the internship tutor the details of the program in which he/she will take part. An initial assessment of the suitability of the tasks is given by the tutor. In case of uncertainty, the tutor will inform the coordinating professor of the degree programme who will issue a final judgment.
In order to be credited, students must send the following documents to the internship tutor within 1 month of their return:
- report written by the student about the experience carried out (see Attachment End of Internship Report)
- a letter from the person in charge of the University structure that manages the programme certifying the student's participation, the period and the tasks performed.
Is it possible to replace the internship with the extension of a study abroad experience?
Students who have participated in the Erasmus/Overseas International Mobility programmes, in one of the locations affiliated with the Faculty of Political and Social Sciences, can accrue 3 ECTS through the attendance of professional courses and seminars organised by the foreign host university (language courses are excluded) and in addition to the courses to be attended compulsorily.
Interested students are required to inform the tutor by e-mail, preferably before departure for the foreign location and in any case at the beginning of attendance, of the seminars and/or courses they intend to attend and the relative number of hours, in order to assess their suitability in advance. This evaluation will be given by the Erasmus tutor together with prof. Caselli.
For the accreditation of ECTS, the student is required to deliver to the internship tutor a document on the letterhead of the host university, which shows that the student has attended the course, seminar or laboratory as well as a report on the course attended.