Combine hands-on experience with thoughtful reflection in the IIC, which comprises both the internship placements and the classroom seminars with written assessments.

THE PLACEMENT

At FIE, we strongly believe that careful monitoring and individual support are crucial in arranging suitable and rewarding internships. FIE’s Experiential Education Team works with you individually from admission to the program to match your skills and background with an appropriate organization. We provide extensive support, both before you begin and throughout your placement, to ensure a rewarding and successful experience. The IIC seminars provide ongoing opportunities to reflect on your placement experience, offering space for analysis and academic development.

Please note that all internships are unpaid and are for academic credit only.

THE SEMINARS

In order to enhance and contextualize your internship experience, you participate in a series of seminars designed to provide you with support to develop your understanding of the UK workplace and enable to you to make the most of your experience. You will work with a faculty member and your peers to reflect upon the experience and exchange ideas. You will be assessed on the detail, clarity, and quality of your written work and assessments, including reflective learning journals, development of a professional portfolio, and a workplace analysis.

You will be assessed on:

• Your ability to reflect upon and engage analytically with the internship experience
• The detail, clarity, and quality of your written work and assessments, including reflective learning journals, development of a professional portfolio, and a workplace analysis
• Your positive engagement with the seminar sessions

By the end of the IIC students will:

• Understand general aspects of the UK sector in which they worked and have a high degree of understanding of the organization in which they were placed
• Describe and reflect on their internship experience and the ways in which they have developed during the semester
• Display ability to adapt to a workplace culture different to what might be expected in their home country, and to effectively navigate cultural differences in the workplace
• Articulate their work-based learning and professional development in a variety of settings and formats
• Connect readings and key class themes to their work experience

WHAT STUDENTS SAY

“I genuinely think that almost all aspects of this course were extremely helpful to me. I had no idea that so many factors of a global internship/working abroad would be so different than in the US, and I think that had I not taken this class I would have never realized any of this nor would I have gotten nearly as much out of my internship. I truly think all aspects that we have learned about were so helpful in analyzing my experience and getting the most out of it that I possibly could.” – Summer student, University of Arizona 

COURSE OUTLINE

Download the course outline here.