Internship

Internship types

Two types of internships are part of the study plan in Prague, Leiden, and Krakow. Students could do the internship in Barcelona only as an non-curricular activity, i.e., it would not be included in the transcript.

Extended internship

Length of internship: 3-4 months
15 ECTS = 380-420 hours

For Charles University and Jagiellonian University, these hours include 50 hours for finding the internship, writing the plan and the final report.

Shortened internship

Length of internship: 2-3 months
10 ECTS = 280 hours

For Charles University and Jagiellonian University, these hours include 50 hours for finding the internship, writing the plan and the final report.

The shorter internship is offered in recognition of the difficulties involved sometimes in finding longer internships but students are strongly encouraged to secure the longer internship if at all possible.

Students taking the 10 ECTS route will need to take an extra course worth a minimum of 5 ECTS in order to make up the credits neeed. This course must be approved by the EPS Local Coordinator as an addition to the shorter internship.

Before internship

All internships have to be approved by the EPS Local Academic Supervisor (in Leiden also by the Careers Service and the Board of Examiners) before the start date. In case you intend to do an internship outside the proposed period of the study plan (2nd year), i.e. in the summer period before your 2nd year of study, please contact the EPS coordinator at the university of your 2nd year in advance.

Internship Plan

An application for the approval of an internship must be delivered through an internship plan, in which the student clearly states where he/she will do the internship and what the content of it will be. The plan must be completed and approved by the student’s academic supervisor for the internship. In this plan, students must clearly show how the internship relates to their academic programme.

We expect students to be able to identify specific elements of their academic learning in the programme and plan them according to the particular work they will carry out in their internship. Thus, at an early stage, students are advised to reflect upon the ways in which knowledge and understanding acquired in an academic environment connect to and can be applied to their professional employment.

Assessment

The internship is designed to ensure that students have an opportunity to apply the skills as well as the academic knowledge and understanding they have acquired to the practical work in a professional employment environment appropriately. They will provide evidence of such in their final report. We expect students to expand and deepen their knowledge base and skills and to use their internship to reflect on the relationship between theory and practice.

The final report should also deliver reflections of a more personal nature. This means reflecting on the reasons for choosing such an internship. In summary, the internship should be assessed in a critical fashion identifying its value (or lack of it) and relative successes and failures demonstrated by clear examples of particularly helpful professional learning opportunities.

To these ends, during and after the internship, students will be required to deliver a final report of 3,000 words, regardless of the length of the internship. In this report, they deliver an analysis of their internship, bearing in mind the guidance above and below. In this report, they deliver an analysis of their internship, bearing in mind the guidance above and below. It should be submitted within two weeks of the end of the internship to the local academic supervisor. For precise instructions, consult the partner university at which you are undertaking the internship.

NB: Fraud and plagiarism in assessment are absolute ‘knockout criteria’, and suspicions thereof have to be reported.

The grade for the internship will be awarded by the EPS Local Academic Supervisor and awarded upon the delivery and assessment of following documents:

  • Internship plan
  • Host organisation report
  • Final report

Internship institutions

There are numerous internship opportunities available in Prague, Krakow and Leiden (or in the Haague). The following list covers only the most renowned examples. Students are expected to arrange their internship with the chosen institution individually.

EUROPEUM – Institute for European Policy

EUROPEUM Institute for European Policy is a non-profit, non-partisan, and independent think-tank focusing on European integration. EUROPEUM contributes to democracy, security, stability, and solidarity across Europe as well as to the active engagement of the Czech Republic in the European Union. EUROPEUM undertakes research, publishing, and educational activities and formulates new ideas and opinions to the EU and Czech policymaking. The EUROPEUM will offer EPS students the possibility of internships, guest lecturers, and expert consultations.

Everis

Everis is a multinational consulting firm. It is focused on a variety of activities covering all aspects of the value chain, from business strategy through to systems implementation. It is active in the sectors of Banking, Healthcare, Industry, Insurance, Media, the Public Sector, Telecoms and Utilities. Currently, Everis has over 11,000 employees in 25 offices in 14 countries and its annual turnover is 600 million euros.  Since 2014, Everis has been part of the NTT Data group, which enables Everis to offer a wider range of solutions and services through increased capacity as well as technological, geographical, and financial resources, establishing the 5th worldwide ICT Company integrated with more than 70,000 employees and with the presence in 41 countries. EVERIS main areas of expertise encompass tax and customs, public finance and budgeting, health, justice, education, innovation and entrepreneurship, public procurement and human resources. EVERIS pays close attention to international policies, world agencies and the European Commission’s orientation towards modernizing public administrations in different countries. Currently, there is a close relationship between the University of Pompeu Fabra and Everis since both undergraduate and master students often undertake professional internships in the consultancy firm. Furthermore, there has also been a cooperation pattern between some research projects performed by researchers at UPF and consultants working at Everis.

Forum 2000 Foundation

The Forum 2000 Foundation pursues the legacy of Václav Havel by supporting the values of democracy and respect for human rights, assisting the development of civil society, and encouraging religious, cultural and ethnic tolerance. The Forum 2000 provides a platform for global leaders, as well as thinkers and courageous individuals from every field of endeavour, to openly debate and share these critical issues. The Forum 2000 conferences represent the main annual activity of the Forum 2000 Foundation. They have been held every October since 1997. Besides conferences, the Forum 2000 Foundation also prepares several educational and multidisciplinary projects such as Democratic Solidarity or NGO Market.  As an Associated Partner, Forum 2000 will give students the possibility to attend its events and the annual conference. They will offer them internships connected to organizing the conference, writing policy briefs and getting in touch with professionals in the various field of politics, policy-making and the academic world.

International Cultural Centre

International Cultural Centre (ICC) in Krakow has the status of a national institution of culture active in the fields of research, education, publishing and exhibitions. It pursues its mission of public diplomacy by facilitating international cultural dialogue, taking Central Europe as the point of departure for its action and thought on heritage. Additionally, the ICC hosts a rich and varied line up of panel discussions and conferences on international themes that are important to the social, cultural and political landscape of Europe from a CEE perspective.

The ICC is a valuable AP for the EPS Programme, with its capacity to host students for internships and its ability to engage in conferences, panel discussions and workshops that focus on international public diplomacy and intercultural dialogue. A range of experts from the ICC works closely with the Institute of European Studies at the JU, amongst them tenured professors who are keen on engaging with international students.

New Eastern Europe Magazine

New Eastern Europe is the exclusive bimonthly news magazine dedicated to Central and Eastern European affairs. Our editorial team is based in Krakow, Poland. The project is a joint collaboration between the City of Gdansk, the European Solidarity Center and the Jan Nowak-Jezioranski College of Eastern Europe.

Samsung Electronics Benelux B.V.

Since being established in 1969, Samsung Electronics has grown into one of the world’s leading technology companies, and become recognized as one of the top 10 global brands. Their network now extends across the world, and Samsung takes great pride in the creativity and diversity of its talented people, who drive our growth. Samsung will cooperate closely with the EPS Consortium through guest lectures, constructive input from the professional field on the curriculum, and internships and exchange. These activities will serve greatly to enhance the students’ opportunities in the job market.

The Netherlands National Commission for UNESCO

The National Commission is part of a large worldwide network of nearly 200 National Commissions, all fulfilling similar roles. Every two years the Commission provides a working programme based on the programmes and policy cycle of UNESCO and the added value that UNESCO can provide to the Netherlands in certain areas and vice versa, and the relevance of themes to policy, society and professional organisations in the Netherlands. The Commission thus seeks to collaborate with relevant partners at both national and international level such as the EPS Programme, which ties in with one of its projects that aims to engage in capacity building for curriculum development.

Trans European Policy Studies Association

The Trans European Policy Studies Association (TEPSA) is the first trans-European research network. The network was established in 1974 as an international non-profit association under Belgian law. It consists of leading research institutes in the field of European affairs throughout Europe, with an office in Brussels. TEPSA’s aim is to provide high-quality research on European integration based on a triple „A“ approach: Analysis, Assessment and Advice in order to stimulate discussion on policies and political options for Europe. TEPSA and EPS Consortium members have engaged in a two-fold approach providing expertise on EU policies and politics combined with vast experience in organizing and conducting EU-wide research, training and networks. In particular, TEPSA will be responsible for the co-organization of the Brussels field trip.

Václav Havel Library

The Václav Havel Library collects, researches, disseminates, promotes and advocates the spiritual, literary and political legacy of a great figure of modern Czech history – the author, playwright, thinker, human rights defender and Czechoslovak and Czech president. It also focuses on people, events and phenomena related to the legacy of Václav Havel and strives to place them in the context of the times and of the present. The main aims of the Václav Havel Library include organizing archival, documentary, museum and library activities focused on the work of Vaclav Havel; Serving, in a suitable manner, such as through exhibitions, the purpose of education and popularization functions, thus presenting to the public the historical significance of the fight for human rights and freedoms in the totalitarian period and the formation of civil society during the establishment of democracy and organizing scientific research and publication activities in its areas of interest. The Václav Havel Library will offer EPS students the possibility of internships, guest lecturers and expert consultations and also will support the PR efforts of the programme.

Calls for internships are shared via montly newsletters.

Last updated 15. 4. 2023.