Internship Policy
Policy
The University of Dubai (UD) considers internship as one of the most important channels that brings together the college, the students, and the job market. Internship is the most valuable means to integrate the academic theoretical environment to real life practice through applied project work.
At UD, an undergraduate student signs up for one of the two following types of Internship:
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Field Internship (for non-working students and working students with less than two years of work experience)
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Industry Project (for working students with minimum two years’ experience) Refer to policy EP 3.24 Industry Project Policy.
1. Course Purpose
To provide students with practical experience in their field of study in an organizational setting where learning and doing are the chief objectives. This internship allows students to demonstrate problem-solving skills, analyze highly complex issues and develop innovative solutions and proposals relevant to an academic/professional field of work. Internship is mainly undergone by non-working students as well as students with less than two years of experience.
2. Overall Objective
The overall objective of the Internship program is to enable students to practice necessary skills that improve their abilities and to supply the public and private organizations with the students that might fit their field of interest, skills, and training for possible future placement.
The objectives and schedules for the DBS programs, CEIT programs and CoL programs are detailed in the respective Internship Manual which are listed in Table A.
3. Benefits to Students
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Gain practical experience in an organizational setting.
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Increase marketability and full-time employment.
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Make a valuable addition to their resume.
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Enhance their candidacy to graduate school.
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Provide the opportunity to work in a multicultural and diversified work environment.
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Enable them to learn new skills and add to their knowledge base.
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Give them the opportunity to practice their communication and teamwork skills.
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Allow them to meet new people and practice their networking skills.
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Assist them to decide if the industry and the profession is the best career option to pursue.
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Provide evidence that they have initiative, are reliable and have a sense of responsibility.
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Apply the theories learned in class into actual practice.
4. Guidelines
Guidelines for each Internship Program can be found in the respective Internship Manuals. The Internship Manual contains detailed information about related academic guidelines, registration, payment, selection criteria, expectations, Internship Code of Conduct, etc. Links to each program's Internship Manual can be found in Table A.
Table A: Internship Manual
5. Study Load during Internship
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Students registering for Field Internship can register for a maximum of three additional courses.
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Students with low CGPA can apply for Internship at the ICDC level but they will be listed under “Conditional Acceptance” until they fulfill the required CGPA eligibility at the end of the Semester in which they are enrolled. Those who are not able to meet the minimum CGPA requirements will be removed from the Internship list.
6. Terms of Offering
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The Field Internship is offered only during specific semesters depending on the program. Refer to the Internship Manual (link in Table A) for specific information on each program.
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Effective from Spring 2024, the minimum duration for student internships shall be 16 weeks.
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Interns are not allowed to take classes from 8:00 AM-2:00 PM.
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Interns are required to work six hours a day minimum. Some companies may require that interns work longer hours before providing the placement confirmation. In such cases, approval of concerned students should be obtained in advance. Interns are free to work for longer hours if they wish with a condition that their working hours do not conflict with their academic course schedule.
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Host companies may require the student to work partially from home on a pre-determined and approved project. The percentage of remote work will be defined by the company and approved by the Academic Supervisor.
7. Roles and Responsibilities
A successful and rewarding internship experience relies on a trilateral collaboration and cooperative efforts among the intern student, the university (specifically ICDC and the Academic Supervisor), and the host company (represented by the Field Supervisor). Refer to Table A, Internship Manual links to access the respective program Internship Manual for a detailed description of roles and responsibilities.
8. Placement Process
While students are encouraged to express their preferred industry field where they would like to do their Internship, it is the responsibility of the ICDC to place them according to UD’s Internship regulations. This practice will ensure that the internship matches the interns’ area of specialization. Refer to Table A, Internship Manual links to access further details on the placement process.
9. Interns Performance Assessment and Grading Criteria
Interns’ performance is assessed through a comprehensive evaluation that measures their practical application of academic knowledge within the field throughout the training program. Additionally, the assessment considers the degree of improvement demonstrated in the skills expected to be developed by the end of the program. The evaluation process, overseen by Field and Academic Supervisors, unfolds as follows:
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Field Supervisor conducts a qualitative general evaluation on the performance of each intern by using the Field Supervisor’s Evaluation of Intern’s Performance Form (IPF6) (reference Table A for Internship Manual links for the forms for each program).
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Academic Supervisor evaluates the performance of the intern through a multifaceted approach relying on weekly performance, Field Supervisor's evaluation, final report, and PowerPoint presentation. This comprehensive evaluation is documented using Intern's Performance by Academic Supervisor Form (reference Table A for Internship Manual links for the forms for each program).
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Assignment of Percentage Grade: Subsequently, the Academic Supervisor assigns a percentage grade to the intern based on the overall performance, with the obtained marks contributing to the intern's final Internship grade. This ensures a fair and comprehensive evaluation of the intern's achievements and development during the training program.
10. Internship Program Evaluation
The Internship program is committed to providing an optimal learning environment to promote interns’ developmental changes and growth over the course of the training. While the progress of interns is regularly and formally assessed, the components of UD training program is also regularly and formally assessed. The ICDC actively solicits insights, feedback and recommendations for improvement from interns, Field Supervisors, and Academic Supervisors.
The collected information serves as a valuable resource in assessing the overall quality of the internship experience, continuously refining and enhancing the program and ensuring it aligns with evolving needs and industry. This commitment aims to refine and enhance the program, ensuring it aligns with evolving needs and industry standards and benefiting all stakeholders involved, including the students, the university, and the employers hosting the interns.
At the end of the Internship, the QAIE Office diligently processes the analysis of the evaluation surveys completed by the above listed parties. The findings derived from these surveys are then relayed to the ICDC and respective Colleges. This collaborative feedback mechanism not only provides insights into the strengths and areas for improvement within the internship program but also empowers the ICDC and Colleges to implement necessary modifications for ongoing enhancement. In essence, this iterative process underscores the program's commitment to continuous improvement, ensuring that the internship experience remains dynamic, relevant, and mutually beneficial for all parties involved.