Regulations Regarding Internships and Work Placements for MarBioTech Students
In addition to the courses required by the curriculum and those chosen independently by the student, the degree programme requires the completion of an internship/work placement consistent with the educational pathway, which must be carried out at public and/or private institutions, or research laboratories of public institutions, that have agreements with the University but are external to it, for a total of 6 ECTS (150 hours), both in Italy and abroad.
This activity enables students to operate with a certain degree of autonomy in a potential work environment. The programme’s website features a list of public and private institutions affiliated with the University of Messina, which are considered suitable for strengthening the knowledge and practical skills students need for their future entry into the labour market. There is close collaboration between the degree programme’s career guidance and placement officer and the COP to ensure that students can access a range of information and guidance services to optimise the outcomes of their non-university training experience. For information activities, the COP keeps the website constantly updated with details of curricular and extracurricular internship opportunities and lists, in a dedicated section of the site, the companies and organisations—public or private—that have entered into specific agreements with the University of Messina for the organisation of internships. The Office also provides advisory and guidance services to students and graduates in selecting external training programmes best suited to their needs and professional goals, and in preparing a training plan outlining the content and procedures for carrying out the internship activities.
The list of agreements with public and private entities and companies, in Italy and abroad, whose activities align with the cultural and educational pathway of the degree programme, is attached as a PDF file.
Representatives of these organisations are also members of the Steering Committee, together with other representatives from the professional world with whom the degree programme and the Committee maintain regular contact, as they represent potential employers for recent graduates. Students also play an active role in choosing where to complete this internship period. Based on their own interests and potential, they may identify and propose an organisation other than those already affiliated—operating either in Italy or abroad—with which, if deemed consistent by the Degree Programme Council with the future career prospects of the professional profiles developed by the programme, a new agreement may be established. To facilitate the needs of students proposing a new organisation, the degree programme employs a staff unit that handles the process of establishing new agreements. Students may complete this training period at any stage of their studies, preferably starting from the second year onwards, so that they have acquired sufficient knowledge to interact externally in a professional and collaborative work environment.
The activities related to the internship are organised into the following phases:
- Signing of the training and orientation internship agreement. Academic staff and students may propose agreements with new companies or organisations that meet the selection criteria and the needs of the degree programme.
- Assignment of the internship and university tutor. Twice a year (March and September), students enrolled in their second year must submit an application for internship assignment. The student’s training plan is developed in consultation between the university tutor and the company mentor, based on the student’s chosen curriculum and aspirations. The Training Plan, which is signed by both parties, specifies the start and end dates of the internship and the activities the student will carry out. The Insurance Services Office of the University of Messina arranges insurance cover for the period indicated on the internship form.
- Completion and implementation of the training plan. During the internship, the student must complete a daily internship activity log, noting the hours and types of activities carried out. At the end of the internship, the student must submit a final report to obtain the course credits. Upon completion of the internship period, the host organisations complete a satisfaction survey indicating their overall satisfaction with the students’ theoretical and practical preparation, as well as with the motivation and interest demonstrated by the interns. In addition, the programme’s Quality Assurance (QA) Group prepares an intern evaluation form, which the company mentor and the university mentor must complete regarding the learning outcomes achieved based on the objectives outlined in the training plan.
All information regarding the regulations for INTERNSHIPS and TRAINEESHIPS is available via the link below.
Before starting an internship, students must hold a certificate of training in workplace safety. Students who do not hold this certificate must complete a 4-hour online course entitled “2022 - Training Module for Students on Workplace Safety.”
The activities related to the internship are divided into the following phases:
- Signing of the training and orientation internship agreement
Academic staff and students may propose agreements with new companies or organisations that meet the selection criteria and the requirements of the degree programme.
- Assignment of the internship and university mentor
Twice a year (March and September), students enrolled in their second year must submit an application for internship assignment.
- Development and implementation of the training plan
Once the internship is assigned, the student, the university tutor, and the company tutor develop the training plan, which serves both to define the objectives and procedures for the internship and to activate insurance cover. During the internship, the student fills out a daily log of internship activities, noting the hours and types of tasks performed. At the end of the internship, the student must submit a final report to obtain course credits.
The student is also required, at the end of the internship, to complete a questionnaire about the experience.