Internships are a mandatory component of Mundus MAPP, and are designed to provide hands-on experience in public policy research, analysis and practice. The aim of the internship component is to facilitate the students’ (re)integration into the international job market upon graduation, build networks and professional contacts at hosting organizations, and allow students to apply and re-examine theoretical knowledge gained through the coursework in light of actual experience.

Internships may be completed in any country, however, students are responsible for taking care of their travel and visa arrangements, living and medical insurance costs. Students should choose a relevant organization, such as think tanks, international organizations, national and international NGOS, professional bodies, government agencies and embassies, or research organizations to complete this program requirement. Internships are arranged by the students themselves; the Consortium institutions however offer support and advice. The tasks students undertake during the internship will vary greatly depending on the host institution’s profile and expectations, but must involve substantive work such as drafting policy documents, collecting, processing and analyzing relevant data, interacting with stakeholders, or research. Work that could typically be done by an intern is a baseline survey, an inventory and first analysis of data, a comparative analysis of findings of different evaluations, a literature study for policy preparation, or preparatory study for lobby and advocacy.

Assessment

Internships take place in the summer of year 1 and the credits count towards year 2. Unless a student asks for a deferment of the internship to year 2 before June, which is subject to the academic board’s approval, failure to submit the internship report and the final internship documentation by October, will mean that the academic board will not confirm the student’s progression to the second year.