Project-oriented Internship

E2023

Nordic Urban Planning Studies

Project oriented internship

English

Read about the Master Programme and find the Study Regulations at ruc.dk

Please be aware of the approval requirements for a project-oriented internship. You can read more about the approval process here

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Lasse Martin Koefoed (lmartin@ruc.dk)
Tatiana Fogelman (fogelman@ruc.dk)

Lasse Martin Koefoed (lmartin@ruc.dk)

IMT Registration & Exams (imt-exams@ruc.dk)

U60335

This project-oriented internship provides students with an opportunity to learn through a mix of practical work, reflection on the intersection between theory and practice, and independent preparation of the internship report under the guidance of a supervisor.

Students are themselves responsible for finding and securing an internship host, and for the practical implementation of the internship, including ensuring that both their tasks for the host and their obligations to the university are fulfilled.

The internship must be approved by the study leader before it is commenced. The main activities must be described and they must lie within the field of the programme. The total work commitment is around 540 hours, of which at least 135 hours should be used for specific study activities.

The problem statement is defined by the student but must relate to theoretical or empirical issues from the field of the programme, which the internship at the host organization or its activities provide an opportunity to explore and illuminate.

The project-oriented internship may be taken as an alternative to the third semester project or the Live Case Project at RUC. It provides an opportunity to learn through a mix of practical work, reflection on the intersection between theory and practice, and independent preparation of the internship report under the guidance of a supervisor. Students are themselves responsible for finding and securing an internship host, and for the practical implementation of the internship, including ensuring that both their tasks for the host and their obligations to the university are fulfilled. The internship must be approved by the study leader before it is commenced. The main activities must be described, and they must lie within the field of the programme. The total work commitment is 540 hours, of which at least 135 hours should be used for specific study activities. A written project report must be prepared. The problem statement is defined by the student but must relate to theoretical or empirical issues from the field of the programme, which the internship at the host organization or its activities provide an opportunity to explore and illuminate.

Readings to be identified by the student relevant to the focus of the project-oriented internship.

Expected study effort

A total of 540 hours, of which at least 135 hours should be devoted to study activities and project writing. Of these, around 10 hours are for supervisions/workshops and mid-term evaluation. The exam, including preparation, takes a further 7 hours.

Teaching and learning activities:

• Internship application and contract • Internship employment • Independent research • Supervisory and workshop meetings • Mid-term evaluation

Staff-involving activities take place on campus.

Internship work takes place at the relevant company or organization.

The project-oriented internship is evaluated via a written questionnaire after the end of the overall activity, and is evaluated more generally through meetings of the NUPS Education Committee and contributions of student representatives.

Dates to be added

By the end of this project-oriented internship, students should be able to:

• Demonstrate knowledge and understand of relevant urban planning theories and methods for addressing the research questions of the internship project

• Identify, work with and analyse academically relevant research questions in specific practical contexts

• Apply theories, methods and approaches from the programme to address practical problems and issues within the context of the internship

• Reflect on the academic competences needed to participate in, understand or solve practical tasks/research questions

• Understand and reflect critically on planning processes and on management and/or governance of urban development projects and practices

• Evaluate and reflect on how knowledge, skills and competences obtained through the programme can be applied to work on practice assignments/research questions

• Identify, understand, involve and collaborate with relevant actors in urban development projects

• Independently compile a project-oriented internship, including planning and managing the workflow

• Relate practical knowledge and experience to the programme’s theories, concepts and methods.

Oral exam based on project oriented internship


The character limit of the written product is: 40,800-69,600 characters, including spaces.
The character limits include the cover, table of contents, bibliography, figures and other illustrations, but exclude any appendices.

Time allowed for exam including time used for assessment: 30 minutes.

The assessment is an assessment of the written product and the oral performance.
Writing and spelling skills in the report are part of the assessment.

Permitted support and preparation materials for the oral exam: All.

Assessment: 7-point grading scale.
Moderation: Internal co-assessor.

Samme som ordinær eksamen / same form as ordinary exam

Project report and any supplementing materials forms the basis of the exam.

The exam includes an individual presentation (max 5 min) of aspects of internship project report. This is followed by a discussion between the student and the examiners based around the written report. Any questions relevant for the theme of second semester internship can be asked during the exam.

Formal requirements regarding the content and length of the project report and length of the project exam are outlined above.

Assessment criteria:

Assessment consists of a joint assessment of the project report and the oral exam.

Project report - high emphasis is put on abilities to:

• Identify and analyse academically relevant research questions in the practical context of the internship • Demonstrate understanding of relevant current planning literature and debates • Identify, apply and assess the implications of planning theories, methods and approaches relevant for addressing practical issues and problems within the internship • Evaluate how knowledge, skills and competencies from the programme can be applied to work on practice assignments and research questions • Communicate reflections and arguments effectively through the form of the written report.

Writing and spelling skills in the project report are part of the assessment.

Oral exam - high emphasis is put on the ability to: • Elaborate and reflect on how the practical knowledge and experience of the internship relates to theories, concepts and methods addressed in the programme, and vice versa • Evaluate the findings and arguments of the internship report, and assess critically the strengths and weaknesses of the theories, methods and approaches employed as well as alternatives.