MILAN – BUSINESS STUDIES, ITALY TODAY
INTERNSHIPS About Internships in Milan IES Abroad Milan arranges internships for credit that provide students with both a practical work experience and an academic seminar. Past internship placements have included positions in fashion, private enterprises, art galleries, musical institutions, and non-profit organizations. To put the work experience in perspective, students participate in a seminar which focuses not only on day-to-day experiences but also on the adaptation to a different cultural and work environment. The Internship Coordinator helps students understand the “techniques” of cultural adaptation and how they can be used throughout the world. Take a look at one student's internship experience in this video: https://youtu.be/gp85WAFqxG0 Language Levels at Placements Prior language study is not required to be placed in an internship. Internship placements are available to students who are at the beginning level of Italian language study, though students with more advanced language background generally have a wider array of internship possibilities available to them. Below is a basic guide to languages needed for certain placement fields; however this is not an exhaustive list and not all placements will follow these rules. The Internship Coordinator will work with you to determine the best fit for your background and language level.
Placements available in English for students with no Italian background
Placements available in English/Italian combination for students with some Italian
Governmental & International Organization -plus all the English-only placements
Business Education Fashion* Marketing & E-Commerce Music & Music Recording
Placements requiring advanced Italian language
Certain fine arts Fashion* Advertising, Media & Communications Music Management Science and Research Psychology Social Justice & Inclusion -plus all the English-only and English/Italian placements
*Note that fashion placements are limited and that they may require a language background. Very few placements are actually working in fashion houses but placements may be fashion related such as working for a fashion-related agency, website, etc.
Application Requirements The minimum language requirement for most internships is two semesters of Italian. Occasionally, internship placements are available to students with little or no Italian language background. These beginning-level placements are less common and IES Abroad cannot guarantee that a placement will be available. Due to the requisite time commitment, it can be challenging for you to participate simultaneously in an internship and enroll in a course at an outside institution, however, many students participate in both each semester. The Internship Application consists of several pieces. Review the internship information in your MyIESabroad account. If you apply for an internship, it is your responsibility to complete all pieces of the internship application before the deadline. A completed internship/service learning application consists of:
Internship Application Form - Submit this form to give the Internship Coordinator an idea of what type of internship you would like to pursue.
Résumé or Curriculum Vitae in English - Uploaded to the Internship Application Form. Describe work experiences in order of most recent to least recent including employer’s address, your position title and dates of employment. Include courses that have prepared you for this internship (language, computer, etc.) and the exact university degree you plan to receive. Also mention any special honors or achievements, relevant volunteer work or campus activities, computer skills and any foreign language knowledge.
Cover Letter in English - Uploaded to the Internship Application Form. In your cover letter be specific and concise about your experiences detailed in your résumé or curriculum vitae. Do not direct your cover letter to a specific organization or company, as there may be special requirements (language level, skills, etc.) in order to qualify. Please include your level of Italian in your cover letter and your resume. Any internship application that does not include a cover letter will not be taken into consideration.
Internship Approval Form - Downloaded from and submitted on the Internship Application Form. The Internship Approval Form must be signed by a Study Abroad Coordinator or Academic Advisor for authorization. Applications that are not completed or are missing the appropriate signatures will not be considered. Completed applications received after the deadlines will be reviewed at the discretion of the program director and will be given low priority for placement. We recommend that you take electronic copies of your résumé/CV and cover letter with you overseas. Upon arrival in your host country, you may be asked to compose another résumé and cover
letter in the language and according to the norms of the host country. Students already familiar with the norms and language of the host country may prepare these documents in advance and bring them along. Selection IES Abroad does not guarantee placement in an internship. Although some internship sponsors prefer to interview potential candidates via Skype before the program starts, final selection cannot be made until students have arrived in Milan and have been interviewed by the Internship Coordinator and the organization offering the internship. This means that some students will not receive any information about potential internship placements until they arrive on-site. Time & Work Involved Students are expected to work a minimum of ten hours each week throughout the semester for 3 credit hours. Interns also participate in the academic seminar which meets for 2 hours each week during the semester. Attendance is mandatory in order to earn the 3 credits. As part of the seminar work, students prepare weekly journal entries, write up summaries on guest lecturers, and prepare a final presentation. Students will also be evaluated on their active participation. Attire for Internships Most internship sites require professional dress. Therefore, if you intend to intern in Milan, bring appropriate clothing. For men this means a suit (preferably) or dress slacks, a sport coat and a dress shirt; for women this means a suit or a dress appropriate for office wear. Credit Preference is given to students whose home university approves credit for the internship program. Students receive 3 credits for the internship, subject to prior approval of the home institution and satisfactory completion of assignments. Academic-year students may complete an internship each semester, for a total of six semester hours of credit. The internship will be listed on the IES transcript with a letter grade and the recommended number of credit hours. It is your responsibility to research and understand your school's policies with regard to credit for internships before you apply for an internship. If your home university does not accept credit for an internship, you will still be required to participate in the internship seminar. Dropping/Withdrawal from An Internship You cannot drop from an internship without damaging IES Abroad’s image and reputation. Therefore, dropping or withdrawing from the internship and seminar after the internship has begun will result in a penalty of 300 Euros which will be billed to your student account.
SERVICE LEARNING What is Service Learning? Service learning combines community service with academic instruction, focusing on critical, reflective thinking and personal and civic responsibility. Service learning in Milan consists of a 3-credit Service Learning Seminar as well as service hours at a placement in Milan. For more details, please see the Service Learning Seminar syllabus on the IES Abroad Milan website. To learn more about Service Learning from a student perspective, check out blog Blair Betik's post "Service Learning: Volunteering in a Foreign Country." What is the focus of the Service Learning Seminar? Europe is experiencing the biggest refugee crisis since World War II. Italy received 181,000 migrants in 2016, and hundreds continue to stream into Milan daily. The Service Learning Seminar is intended for students who are willing to make a semester-long commitment to this cause. Our partner is the Comune di Milano, which is the city government of Milan, and the specific area we support is the Department of Immigration. The World Cultures Center is an innovative and experimental service of the City of Milan’s Department for Immigration Policy created to promote integration and social inclusion as well as initiatives than encourage communication and intercultural exchange among the foreign citizens of Milan. Education, work, health, legal and anti-discrimination support, welfare, social well-being and cultural exchanges are the main focus areas. The World Cultures Center provides access to the following services:
social and legal counseling family reunification assisted voluntary repatriation training and employment skills Italian language training international protection
How does Service Learning in Milan work? Students participating in this program will be matched with a mentor and work by their side for the entire semester. They will be present during client interviews and help provide services. Behind the scenes support placements will work in areas such as database and reporting, and the administration of European Union grants. Students may have the opportunity to travel with their mentors to “hotspots” (urban refugee camps/intake centers) from time to time. Are there prerequisites to participate? Service Learning is well-suited for students of all academic backgrounds and interests. Although Italian language proficiency is not required for participation, it should be noted that not all mentors speak English. Students need to have a keen interest in learning Italian and be willing to hit the ground running
with their language acquisition. Students with intermediate or advanced Italian are very much in need; they will help bridge the communication gap between non-English speaking social workers and clients who do not speak Italian but speak some English. Students who speak French, Spanish or Arabic are also very much in need. What is the time commitment? Five hours of service per week (60 hours/semester) plus meeting as a group once a week for two hours in a classroom setting for the Social Action Seminar. The 3-credit interdisciplinary seminar will support student placements by giving background knowledge necessary to understand why the refugee crisis is occurring and how the Department of Immigration is handling it, from both an administrative and human perspective. Students who are ready to commit to the program by the end of orientation will be offered the opportunity to start volunteering during the afternoons of the intensive language period at the beginning of the semester. These accumulated hours can help offset times during the semester when students are busy with exams or away on vacation. What about the placement process? Although we try to take particular interests into consideration, placements are largely a function of scheduling. Many of the mentors work part-time, meaning they come in only on certain days, or work only in the morning. In general, most employees do not work past 4:30pm, so students will be bestserved with schedules that leave some time in the morning or early afternoon for volunteering. Can I do both the Internship Seminar and the Service Learning Seminar? No. Due to the intensity of each seminar and the time commitment of each, students need to choose between an Internship and a Service Learning placement. You cannot do both. What should I think about before deciding to participate in the Service Learning seminar? Students interested in participating in this program should reflect on the following questions:
Will I be able to make time in my schedule to volunteer five hours each week for the entire semester (60 hours/semester)? Am I taking classes at one of the local Italian universities that might conflict with the schedule of the required seminar? Am I willing to participate even if my home school does not approve the 3-credit seminar towards a particular graduation requirement? Would I feel comfortable being exposed to stories of hardship and suffering, and in some cases, human trafficking and exploitation? Do I consider myself flexible, adaptable, and able to go with the flow? Am I comfortable with ambiguity and able to problem-solve even when instructions are not clear? Am I proactive and able to take the initiative?
Students who are fairly certain that none these scenarios will be barriers for them are invited to complete the service learning placement form. There will be a meeting during orientation and a visit to the Immigration Department.