FIE Dublin internship placements, together with online coursework, discussion, and reflection, form the International Internship Course (IIC).

THE PLACEMENT

The internship placement is an ideal opportunity to have an ‘insider’s view’ to Irish life and culture.  Pre-departure guidance and on-site support provided are keys to success.  Students are individually matched to an appropriate organization based on skills, past experience and field of study. Internship placements are carefully vetted, and student progress is monitored and supported throughout the term.  Please note that all internships are unpaid and are for academic credit only.

ACADEMICS

In order to enhance and contextualize the internship experience, there is an important academic component that runs in conjunction with the placement.  Students will work both online and in class with their peers and a course instructor to reflect upon their internship experience and exchange ideas. It is an ‘exchange of ideas’ among participants and not a lecture-based course. Student experience in the placement and assigned readings form the basis for theoretical classroom activities and discussion. In many ways, the course differs from courses students will have taken previously in that it relies on the practical experiences of the students themselves for the majority of the input.

The course is challenging (often in unexpected ways) and stretches students beyond their ‘comfort zone’. Students who benefit most from the overall experience are those who regard each day at their internship and each internsip seminar as an opportunity to learn something new about themselves, the world of work, and the world around them. The seminars are a key opportunity for students to process their work observations and document their learning.