International Relations and Global Affairs - IRGA

To activate the curriculum internship with ECTS you need to access the website: http://step.unicatt.it
Before starting the internship, youshould explain to the internship tutor the timeframe, procedures, contents, and tasks regarding the internship. Once you have received confirmation from the tutor, you can start the activation procedure.

• Internship agreement : agreement between the University and the host institution.
• Training project : a document that defines the objectives, activities, and methods of the internship.
• Any additional documents : may be requested based on the specific needs of the degree course or the host institution.
• For a detailed guide with all the technical steps to follow on the portal, download the official document .
  
  

For the recognition of the internship, within one month after the end of the internship, the student is required to send the following documents by e-mail to the internship tutor:

Is it possible to do an internship abroad?
Yes, it is possible to undertake an internship abroad. The administrative management of international internships is handled by the International Development Area (wea@unicatt.it), while the internship tutor remains the point of reference for the recognition of ECTS credits.

 Is it possible to find an internship independently?
Yes. Students may find an internship opportunity independently. If the host organisation is not affiliated with the University, the procedure described in the internship activation guidelines must be followed.

Internships may be searched for through various channels, including:

• The internet, job portals, graduate databases, and company websites (many companies have dedicated online recruiting sections)
• Career Days, Job Days, and other job fairs
• Authorised employment agencies, public employment services, recruitment and selection agencies, universities, etc.
• The Official Gazette and Regional Bulletins for public competitions
• Career guidance publications
• Personal and professional networks
• Social networks

Is it possible to interrupt an internship?
The host organisation may request the interruption of the internship through the dedicated section of the portal step.unicatt.it. As this is a curricular internship awarding ECTS credits, in the event of interruption the student must promptly inform the academic internship tutor.

Is it possible to undertake an internship at international organisations?
Yes. In this case, depending on the regulations of the international organisation, the internship may not be activated through the STEP portal but may instead be recognised as work experience.

Is it possible to have work experience recognised instead of an internship?
Yes, provided that the work experience for which recognition is requested (worth 3 ECTS credits) meets the following requirements:

• It must last at least 2 months and include a minimum of 160 hours
• The tasks performed must be related to the student’s academic programme
• It must take place during the student’s university studies
• It must not have been previously submitted for credit recognition
• It must not be carried out under the employment of a parent or close relative

For credit recognition, students must submit the following documents to the tutors:

• A written report describing the work experience
• A letter on the company’s official letterhead (signed by the employer or responsible manager) stating the duration of the work experience and the tasks performed

Is it possible to replace the internship with an extended study-abroad experience?
Students who have participated in International Mobility programmes (Erasmus/Overseas) at partner institutions of the Faculty of Political and Social Sciences may earn 3 ECTS credits by attending professionally oriented courses, seminars, or workshops organised by the host university (language courses are excluded).
Interested students must inform the tutors - preferably before departure and in any case at the beginning of attendance - of the courses, seminars, and/or workshops they intend to attend and the corresponding number of hours, in order to allow a preliminary assessment of their suitability. This assessment will be carried out by the Erasmus tutor in consultation with Prof. Caselli.
For the recognition of ECTS credits, students must submit to the internship tutors:

• An official document on the host university’s letterhead certifying attendance at the course, seminar, or workshop;
• A written report on the attended activity.

Is it possible to replace the internship with participation in one of the University’s international programmes?
The 3 ECTS credits may also be obtained through participation in international programmes offered by other University units (International Office, University Centre for International Solidarity, and Pastoral Centre), provided that:

• The programme is relevant to the student’s study plan
• It includes technical or professionally oriented tasks
• It lasts at least one month

Students must inform the tutor in advance and before departure about the details of the programme. An initial assessment of the suitability of the activities is provided by the tutor. In case of uncertainty, the tutors will consult the degree programme coordinators, who will issue a final decision.
For credit recognition, students must submit the following documents to the internship tutors within one month of returning:

• A written report on the experience (see “Final Internship Report” attachment)
• A letter from the University unit responsible for the programme certifying the student’s participation, duration, and tasks performed

If I have already obtained credit for an internship, can I undertake a second one?
All students may apply for available internship opportunities.
Internship offers published on Blackboard are primarily accessible to students who have not yet obtained the 3 ECTS credits. Only if there are no other candidates for a given position may students who have already earned the 3 ECTS credits apply for an additional experience.
For internship offers published on the Stage & Placement Portal or other channels, applications may be submitted without priority restrictions.
A second curricular internship will be managed by the Stage & Placement Office rather than by internship tutors and will be recorded in the study plan with 0 ECTS credits.