What is the internship?
The curricular internship is a mandatory educational activity included in the study plan that serves as a final project option; within the Food Science and Technology degree program, it allows you to earn 6 CFU credits through workplace experience and aims to introduce you to the professional world.
The internship may be undertaken in Italy or abroad, requires a minimum of 150 hours, and must be completed by the graduation session.
To begin the internship, you must first submit an application.
- Mandatory: included in the study plan
- Recognized CFU credits: minimum 6 ECTS
- Minimum duration: 150 hours (in Italy or abroad)
- Format: full-time or part-time; in-person or hybrid
- Activation: following contact with the internship tutor, activation takes place via the https://step.unicatt.it/ portal at least one month prior to the start date
- Credit registration: registration for the internship exam session (starting from the summer sessions of the third year)
- Mandatory meetings: participation in at least 4 career guidance meetings organized by the Career Service to prepare for the internship.
- Internship application submission: via the dedicated Blackboard course, by the deadline of April 1st or October 1st.
- Identifying a company: students may utilize tools and opportunities such as the Job Teaser portal, Cattolica Career Day, LinkedIn, company websites, networking, and recommendations from the Internship Tutor. The Internship Tutor can assist with the application submission process.
- Host organization contact details to be sent to the Internship Tutor: VAT number/Tax ID and company name, plus the email and/or phone number of the company contact person. These details must be provided AT LEAST 1 MONTH before the scheduled internship start date.
- Activation via the STEP Portal: an information session is held to explain the activation process via the STEP portal; the activation procedure is guided by automated emails, and the internship tutor is available for any assistance needed. Information regarding the portal can also be found here.
- Internship logbook: sent via email by the internship tutor; it can also be downloaded independently from the portal (https://step.unicatt.it/) at the bottom of the training project page (using the “Print internship logbook” button). It must be filled out and duly signed by the company supervisor and returned to the internship tutor upon completion of the internship.
All documents are available on Blackboard Info Stage LT Food Production Management (Piacenza) or at https://step.unicatt.it/ as follows:
Blackboard
- Internship regulations
- Internship application
- Document archive: upload of the duly completed and validated internship logbook
Portal https://step.unicatt.it/
- Internship logbook: sent via email by the internship tutor; it can also be downloaded independently from the https://step.unicatt.it/ portal at the bottom of the training project page
- Company evaluation questionnaire: available to the company starting 5 days before the end of the internship and for the following 30 days. If the company no longer has access to the questionnaire on https://step.unicatt.it/, it is the student's responsibility to ask the company to complete the fillable PDF and submit it to the internship tutor
Upon completion of the internship, the student must:
- Upload the signed internship logbook to Blackboard;
- Ensure that the company has completed the evaluation questionnaire at https://step.unicatt.it/ (available to the company starting 5 days before the end of the internship and for the following 30 days). If the company no longer has access to the questionnaire at https://step.unicatt.it/, it is the student's responsibility to request that the company complete the fillable PDF version and submit it to the internship tutor.
Verbalization
Internship credits (CFU) may be formally recorded starting from the end of the second semester of the third academic year, in accordance with the study plan.
Students may have the credits officially recorded in their academic record by signing up for the recording session on the scheduled dates, provided that:
- The aforementioned steps have been completed;
- All required documentation is available;
- The student has finished writing the final paper (Bachelor’s thesis).
The recording process is administrative; physical presence is not required, and no formal notification or summons will be sent. The credits are awarded automatically once all documentation is in order.
- Is the internship mandatory?
Yes. The internship is a required part of the student's study plan, as stipulated by the Internship Regulations; it must be completed in order for the student to graduate. - Can I do the internship abroad?
Yes. The process is always initiated via the STEP portal. Your primary point of contact is the Internship Tutor, who will also coordinate with UCSC International (programmi.internazionali-pc@unicatt.it). - Can I end the internship before the training project is finished?
Yes. However, for the experience to be valid and meet study plan requirements, you must have completed at least 150 hours and gathered all the necessary documentation.
Before starting, it is advisable to carefully assess the duration of the training project (regarding insurance coverage). - Is there an allowance or stipend?
Any allowance or expense reimbursement is at the discretion of the host organization. Therefore, it is not guaranteed. - I am already working; do I still have to do the internship?
Your current employment may be considered for the recognition of the internship credits (CFU). Contact the Internship Tutor to initiate the procedure. - The host organization is proposing a different type of contract; should I refuse?
Not necessarily. Before making a decision, contact the Internship Tutor to evaluate the situation together. - When is the best time to do the internship?
The timing and organization of the internship are at the discretion of the student and the host organization. Due to the seasonal nature of many agri-food production activities, the best time to undertake the internship often falls during the summer and autumn months, allowing the experience to align well with the academic summer break; however, completing the internship during this specific period is not mandatory. Similarly, students have the option to undertake this experience as early as the end of the second semester of their second academic year; however, it remains up to the student whether to take advantage of this opportunity or to schedule the internship for the following academic year. - Is it advisable to start the internship while there are still many exams left to take?
Regardless of whether one decides to complete the internship at the end of the second academic year or during the third, it is generally preferable to have a reduced exam workload.
Tutor stage
Dr. Mauro Crespi
E-mail: mauro.crespi1@unicatt.it
Modalità di ricevimento: su appuntamento
Other Links
- Stage opzionale curriculare 0 CFU o stage post laurea extracurriculare in Italia: Career Service ser.stage-pc@unicatt.it
- Stage all'estero: UCSC International programmi.internazionali-pc@unicatt.it
- JOB TEASER https://unicatt.jobteaser.com/it/backend/job-offers/?refresh=true&startDateEnd&startDateIsAsap=0&startDateStart
- Portale https://step.unicatt.it/