Prerequisite/Recommended prerequisite for participation in the module

In order to participate in Project Oriented Course (Internship), students must have passed exams totaling at least 30 ECTS from the 1st and 2nd semester of the DIR study program

Content, progress and pedagogy of the module

Students must spend a minimum of three months in an international organization working with activities related to development and international relations. The host organization is chosen by the student and must be approved by the study board. Before the internship begins, an agreement between the student, the study board and the host organization must be drawn up stating the expectations and responsibilities of the student during the internship. This agreement must specify which tasks the student is expected to undertake at the host organization as well as the duration of the internship. In addition, students will be expected to produce a project report at the end of the internship on a topic of relevance to the host organization. The internship and the project report together correspond to a total of 25 ECTS credits.

Choice of specialization

If students have opted for a full specialization within Chinese Area Studies, Latin American  Studies, Global Gender Studies, or Global Refugee Studies the focus of the project oriented module must be related to the chosen specialization.

Objectives

The objective of the module is that students gain practical experience through applying knowledge, theories and methods within development and international relations while working in an international organization. Moreover, the students must be able to reflect critically on their experience during their time at an international organization and on the linkage between their study programs and the internship. During their internship, the students apply their collaborative PBL competences acquired from working in project groups based on problem-based learning during previous semesters and demonstrate their reflexive competencies in the project report.

Contents

During the module, students must spend a minimum of three months at an organization working within the fields of development and international relations. Concurrently, the students will write a project report, reflecting on their experience and using their theoretical knowledge about development and international relations to identify and analyze a problem field of relevance to the host organization.

Learning objectives

Knowledge

• will have acquired specific knowledge and experience of working at an international organization
• will possess in-depth knowledge of the field of the host organization and can reflect on these on an academic basis and within a problem based learning perspective

Skills

• can analyze specific issues within the fields of development or international relations
• can select and apply relevant methods and theories in practical context
• can reflect critically on the application of relevant methods and theories from an academic perspective, including PBL

Competences

• is able to apply acquired theoretical knowledge related to international relations and development in a practical context
• can plan their own work and undertake the specific analytical and academic tasks requested by the host organization
• can function within an intercultural working environment
• can take responsibility for their own professional development in cooperation with the chosen host organization.

Type of instruction

Students will be expected to participate in the activities of the host organization and will also write a project report. Students will be assigned a supervisor.

Exam

Prerequisite for enrollment for the exam

• The students must hand in a written statement from the host institution stating that the student has worked in the organization during the time period stipulated.

Exams

Name of exam	Project Oriented Course
Type of exam	Written exam The module is completed by an internally assessed, individual written examination assessed according to the 7-point grading scale. Students must submit a project report of 12 to 15 pages. The report must contain reflections on the linkage between the internship and the study program as well as an analysis of a topic relevant to the host organization. Additionally, there must be reflections about problem-based learning in relation to internship experience, drawing on experiences from former semesters at the study program.
ECTS	25
Assessment	7-point grading scale
Type of grading	Internal examination
Criteria of assessment	The criteria of assessment are stated in the Examination Policies and Procedures

Additional information

Danny Raymond is responseble for the course in Copenhagen.

Jesper Willaing Zeuthen is responseble for the course at in Aalborg.