Internship - Practicum Bachelor of Business Administration-BBA Academic Year 2011-2012
Purificación Cabezas Associate Director Career Services Teresa Careta Director, University Programmes Office Anna Iñesta Associate Director, Bachelor of Business Administration-BBA Associate Director, Curriculum Design and EHEA (DIPQA) Xari Rovira Director, Bachelor of Business Administration-BBA
The European university world is undergoing a transcendental change, which has a direct impact on the design, content and methodology of university education in our country. This guide contains basic information about one of the major innovations, which has been included to ESADE s new Bachelor of Business Administration-BBA: the Practicum More specifically, this guide contains information on 3
Contents 1. What is the European Higher Education Area (EHEA)?... 5 2. The structure of university education... 6 3. What is the Bachelor of Business Administration-BBA?... 6 4. What is the Bachelor of Business Administration-BBA Practicum?... 7 4.1 The agreement for academic cooperation... 8 4.2 The learning contract... 8 4.3 Insurance policies for internship students... 9 4.4 Payment for internships... 10 5. Time the students spend pursuing the Practicum... 10 6. Periods available for carrying out the Practicum... 11 7. The students responsibilities whilst carrying out the Practicum... 11 8. The role of the company tutor... 12 9. Time spent carrying out the role of Company Tutor... 14 10. Practicum assessment form...15 11. Contact details... 17 4
1. What is the European Higher Education Area (EHEA)? In 1999, the governments of the European Union Member States began to lay down the fundamental principles of a common European Higher Education Area for all states. Three of the main objectives of this new Area, which grants the Bachelor of Business Administration BBA degree, are: a. To guarantee high-quality university education b. To guarantee the transparency of the entire learning process c. To promote the mobility of students, teachers and administrative staff The process whereby universities adapt to this Area is known as the Bologna Process, since it was in this Italian city that the Bologna Declaration was signed, a document that marked the start of this process. The convergence process within the new EHEA has led to a series of changes in university education. More specifically, and in terms of applicability, at ESADE the Bologna Process has four dimensions: a. A methodology that focuses on constructive learning b. The use of Information and Communication Technologies, which promote effective learning processes c. A continuous assessment that allows students to manage their own learning process, adapting it to any feedback received and the results obtained d. The use of learning opportunities that allow students to develop the necessary skills to enable them to become professionals who can contribute added value in the field of management 5
2. The structure of university education In the EHEA integration process, university education in Spain is divided into an initial four-year period, known as the Degree, followed by a second, specialisation stage, the Master, and a third research stage, the PhD. At ESADE, Bachelor of Business Administration-BBA graduates access ESADE s MSc Programmes in Management directly. These programmes are taught entirely in English and constitute an excellent opportunity to study the subjects focused on during the undergraduate degree in greater depth, specialising in the area the student would like to work in after finishing their university education. Bachelor of Business Administration-BBA MSc 1 2 3 4 1 + 3. What is the Bachelor of Business Administration-BBA? The Bachelor of Business Administration-BBA is ESADE s answer to the needs of the world of business. Within the framework of the Bologna Accords, the programme provides talented, motivated university students with a comprehensive education. The syllabus is designed to ensure that students incorporate the latest management trends, whilst developing the competencies needed by managers on a daily basis: leadership, teamwork, social responsibility and multicultural awareness, in addition to many other skills. 6
Moreover, since it is a bilingual programme, the BBA students have excellent language skills: English is compulsory, as is a second language, which can be either French or German. The Professional Practices Programme Practicum has been designed in order to achieve the objectives of the Bachelor of Business Administration- BBA, as well as the different methodologies used in the classroom. 4. What is the Bachelor of Business Administration-BBA Practicum? The Practicum is one of the innovations in the new undergraduate degree, and one of the most important aspects of the students education. It is a professional and learning experience, which provides them with the opportunity to experience the everyday functioning of an organisation and participate in real professional activities, which give the students a tangible idea of what their future profession may involve. Moreover, the Practicum allows companies to obtain the professional profiles of BBA students, who receive an excellence-oriented education in the acquisition and application of knowledge of the different business areas, knowledge that is aimed at allowing the students to contribute added value to the company during their internship. 7
4.1 The agreement for academic cooperation Under Spanish law, in order for a company to receive an ESADE intern, an agreement for academic cooperation, must be signed. This is an agreement between the student, the company and ESADE, which regulates and establishes the conditions of the internship, and is not an employment contract. How is the agreement processed? The Career Services Career Resource Centre is responsible for processing this agreement, based on the information provided by the company. Once prepared, three copies are printed: one for the company, one for the Career Services and the third one for the student. The Career Services will call the student once the agreement has been signed and stamped by ESADE and the latter will then send it to the company in question for them to sign. 4.2 The learning contract In addition to the agreement for academic cooperation, there is another extremely important document that contains the details of each individual Practicum: the learning contract. This is a document detailing the planned collaboration framework for the student whilst they are at the company where they are to undertake their internship. More specifically, this framework refers to: - the context (section, department, team, etc.) where they are to undertake their internship 8
- the rules regarding the behaviour expected of the student - the tasks and responsibilities that the student is to take on during their internship - the skills profile the student will have to display How is the learning contract processed? After completing and signing the learning contract, to reflect the agreements reached during the first meeting with the company tutor, the student will ask both the academic tutor and company tutor to sign the document and to send the completed contract to the Practicum Co-ordinators. 4.3 Insurance policies for internship students During their internship period, all Spanish students in ESADE s BBA programme will be covered by the compulsory school insurance. When the internship is carried out outside of Spain, the student will be responsible for taking out an insurance policy to cover accidents and illness. The cover of the abovementioned risks is the exclusive responsibility of the student and must also be paid by them. Non-Spanish students must take out an insurance policy that covers risks of accidents and illness during their internship, whether it is undertaken in Spain or abroad. The cover of the abovementioned risks is the exclusive responsibility of the student and must also be paid by them. In the event of an accident, the company undertakes to send the academic manager a detailed report as quickly as possible. 9
4.4 Payment for internships Companies are advised to pay the Practicum students a sum to cover the basic costs arising from their internship in their company. As a rough guide, in the last few academic years, companies have paid Business Administration and Management Undergraduate Degree internship students around 400 per month for part-time work. 5. Time the students spend pursuing the Practicum The Practicum is compulsory and gives the students 20 ECTS credits. Therefore, students must devote the following number of hours to the Practicum: Compulsory minimum Legally permitted maximum 450 hours 900 hours These hours can be arranged in the following ways: Minimum Maximum Full-time 3 months Approx. 6 months Part-time Spread out over a period adapted to suit the company s requirements 10
6. Periods available for carrying out the Practicum Student profile Flexible period 3 rd year BBA students (penultimate academic year) 2 nd semester From 1 February to 15 August 4 th year BBA students (final academic year) 1 st semester From 15 August to 31 January This model allows companies to take on BBA internship students all year round. 7. The students responsibilities whilst carrying out the Practicum It goes without saying that the students play a key role in the success of their collaboration with the company in which they carry out their internship. With regard to their responsibilities, we can differentiate between those linked to their professional role (in the company), and those connected to their student role (at ESADE). The following table includes the main responsibilities the students undertake when they sign the learning contract: 11
Responsibilities in the company Responsibilities at ESADE The student comes to an agreement with the company tutor about the tasks the former will carry out during their internship, and this agreement is certified via a learning contract. The student has to comply with the company s disciplinary policy and culture The student has to collaborate with the employees of the company in which they carry out their internship The student has to attend company meetings as required The student has to attend performance appraisal meetings with the academic tutor The student has to attend compulsory tutorials with the academic tutor The student has to inform the academic tutor of any incidents that may affect their internship The student has to comply with the company s confidentiality policy The student has to complete the Practicum learning diary every three weeks via the Practicum website The student has to prepare an Internship Report Final meeting and feedback 8. The role of the company tutor The company tutor plays a key role in the Practicum, since he/she is a point of reference for the student in the company in which they pursue their internship. This tutor s role helps ensure the Practicum is a truly enriching experience both for the student and the company. 12
The company tutor s general functions are: a) To help the student during the first few weeks of their internship in the company, facilitating the adaptation period, answering their questions and resolving any problems they many have. b) To provide feedback and offer the student guidance during their internship in the company. It is extremely important for the students to receive feedback and guidance on their professional performance. We suggest there should be regular performance appraisal meetings between the company tutor and the student. We recommend that, at the start of the internship, these meetings take place on a weekly basis and that, from the start of the second month of the Practicum, they should be held on a fortnightly basis. c) To maintain fluid communication with the academic tutor: to collaborate with the academic tutor, providing information on the student s performance during the internship period. This information can be passed on during meetings between both tutors. A minimum of two such meetings are planned: one at the beginning of the internship, and another before the end of the first third of the student s internship in the company. If necessary, these can be complemented using alternative methods (e-mail, phone calls, etc.). d) To participate in the assessment of the student, as the person who knows most about the latter s performance in the company. It is important that the company tutor participates in this assessment, which is a key aspect of the role he/she plays in the Practicum. This participation involves: - filling in the Practicum assessment form - assessing the student s skills profile and completing the 360º questionnaire, once the student has finished their internship in the company. 13
9. Time spent carrying out the role of Company Tutor As a rule, in order to perform his/her functions, the company tutor devotes the following amount of time to the job: Task Initial interview with the academic tutor. Tutors and company getting to know each other and the student s work plan Initial interview with the student Second interview with the academic tutor. Checking the students progress. Performance appraisal meetings in the company of the student (every three weeks). Filling in the Practicum assessment form. Assessing the student s skills profile, taking part in the 360º questionnaire (optional) Answering the assessment questionnaire on the company tutor s experience. Final meeting and feedback. Approximate total number of hours spent Estimated time spent 1 hour 1 hour ½ hour ½ hour / meeting (at least 3 meetings) ¼ hour ½ hour ¼ hour ½ hour 5 hours / student 14
10. Practicum assessment form Company tutor Please send this form to the academic tutor. You can add any complementary documentation you think appropriate. Name of student Internship centre Name and position of the company tutor Telephone E-mail Name of the academic tutor I. If you had to give the student a global mark from 1 to 5, which mark would you give them? II. Please list the criteria you used to make this global assessment and describe the student s contribution in terms of the following items, in comparison with other students or staff members who have carried out similar functions: Within Poor Minimum normal values Good Excellent Punctuality Irregular and inadequate 1 2 3 4 5 Regular and adequate Quality of work performed Poor 1 2 3 4 5 Excellent Punctuality in fulfilling commitments Slow 1 2 3 4 5 Very punctual Learning capacity Slow 1 2 3 4 5 Fast Responsibility Unreliable 1 2 3 4 5 Extremely reliable Judgement Poor 1 2 3 4 5 Mature Capacity for teamwork Low 1 2 3 4 5 Excellent Level of knowledge of the internship area (marketing, finance, etc.) Interpersonal relations Poor 1 2 3 4 5 Excellent Not well accepted 1 2 3 4 5 Highly cooperative Global performance Unsatisfactory 1 2 3 4 5 Excellent 15
III. In relation to the Practicum completed in your company, please describe briefly the most positive aspects of the student s professional performance, and those that could be improved upon. Positive aspects Aspects that could be improved IV. On an optional and voluntary basis, could you please value the student s performance in the skills they selected to focus on specifically during their Practicum? V. Would you recommend that this student choose to follow a career in the sector focused on whilst performing the internship tasks? If you replied yes to the above question, what additional advice would you give the student so that they can prepare themselves for this future career? VI. How did the student react when given feedback on this assessment? 16
11. Contact details If you would like more information, please request the BBA Practicum Company Tutorial Guide, by contacting the University Programmes Unit s Career Resource Centre: E-mail: unicareerservices@esade.edu Telephone: +34 93 567 66 90 17
Career Services University Programmes Unit Programme Management Educational Innovation and Academic Quality Unit (DIPQA) Bachelor of Business Administration-BBA