INTERNSHIP POLICY

HIGHER SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS

INTRODUCTION

To facilitate the transition from academic study to a professional career, CDCC joins in partnership with the business community to provide the final learning experience, the internship, for the student. The internship is an opportunity to transfer and apply the knowledge and theory gained in the classroom to actual business setting. The best way to learn to function as a professional is to work as a professional in the field. In this setting, the student can practice skills, apply knowledge, and test theories and concepts under the guidance and supervision of experienced professionals. The internship provides students with an opportunity to grow professionally, identify personal strengths and weaknesses, apply learned theory to practical situations, and gain an appreciation of the role, duties, and responsibilities of the work that the student has chosen as a career. The internship is designed cooperatively by CDCC, the university faculty, field professionals, and the student to provide an experience that is mutually beneficial to both the Intern and the organization. Internship supervisors within the organization become the final link in the development of the Intern as a new professional. This partnership creates the ultimate educational experience.

OBJECTIVES OF THE INTERNSHIP

The purpose of the internship program is to provide the student (future professional) with a wide-ranging practical experience in a setting where learning is the primary objective of the experience. Therefore the basic purposes of the internship are:
FOR THE STUDENT: to complete his/her professional preparation program in supervised field experience.
FOR THE UNIVERSITY: to support and guide the student through the experience while the student applies theoretical knowledge to practice.
FOR THE ORGANIZATION: to provide a comfortable work environment for the experience as well as professional mentorship.
At the end of the internship experience, it is expected that student achieve following outcomes:

1. Systematize and consolidate knowledge obtained during the training period.
2. Identify and analyze basic supervision concepts.
3. Apply professional management skills and meet performance standards of the profession.
4. Apply basic concepts of management and administration.
5.Acquire knowledge of professional competencies needed to succeed in the field.

DESCRIPTION OF INTERNSHIP PLACEMENT PROCESS
In the beginning of the fall semester, an Internship Placement Process Orientation is held to inform senior students of the internship requirements and the placement process procedures. Additional information is available on HSE website in CDCC section. Following this meeting, students are asked to complete the “Intent to Intern” form.(Available on HSE website and at CDCC office) The student is asked to list three to five potential organizations on the “Intent to Intern” form. After completing the form and related materials, the student schedules an individual meeting with internship coordinator. At this meeting the student’s internship eligibility is determined and possible internship organizations are selected which will meet the student’s professional development objectives. If student desire to seek internship organization individually, he/she must receive formal approval from internship coordinator CDCC to contact the potential agencies and set up interviews. CDCC coordinator contacts each of the identified and approved organizations and checks to see if the organization is willing to accept an Intern. If these conditions are met, CDCC makes an interview appointment if necessary by the organization. If required by the organization, student meets with organization HR representative to determine the most appropriate internship. When the Internship Coordinator and student have made the final organization selection, contracts are prepared by the Corporate Development and Career Center and signed by the student, the organization representative, and the Internship Coordinator. Then and only then is student internship placement process officially complete.
Step 1. Complete the Intent to Intern Form
Step 2. Student meets with the HSE Internship Coordinator
Step 3. A Contract between the receiving organization, HSE and an Intern is prepared and signed

STUDENT ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
Higher Schools of Economics students are required to complete and pass exam session in order to be eligible for an internship. The following procedures, tasks are to be used in preparation for internship placement. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that all procedures have been followed and that deadline dates have been met.
Each student should:
1. Pass all exams;
2. Attend “A” Step to Successful Career Program- get a certificate;
3. Choose internship organization;
4. Sign documents with CDCC and Organization;
5. Attend 10 weeks of internship at the organization;
6. After completing internship hours, each student required to write a report and support it with all necessary information;
7. Present internship result report to the university committee;
Result report must be approximately 20-30 pages length and should be written in accordance with state standard.
Committee members make a decision after reviewing internship report of each student and grade it.
Standard evaluation criteria of the report are:
* The level of student theoretical understanding of the goals, objectives, contents, methods of the organization;
* Quality of the internship results report;
* The extent and quality of the professional skills acquired by the student;
* The level of professional conclusions and recommendations made by the student during the internship.
Note* Internship grade marks separately in the transcript.

ORGANIZATION ELEGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
To ensure appropriate internship placement, the organization must meet the following requirements:
1. Be approved by HSE CDCC, student’s Faculty Intern Advisor, Internship Coordinator, & Department;
2. Be a work setting environment with clear job responsibilities applicable to employment duties;
3. Provide an intern supervisor with qualifications;
4. Provide supervision and mentorship contributing to professional development;
5. Provide opportunities to participate, observe, and learn corporate culture of the organization;
6. Be willing to participate in the Intern evaluation process;
7. Be available for mentoring through ten weeks of student internship;
8. Provide resources necessary to support intern in the satisfactory completion of his or her goals and objectives, and the completion of assigned duties/tasks (e.g., equipment, materials, work space);

INTERNSHIP LEARNING OUTCOMES
Apply academic knowledge in a professional setting;
The main goal of an HSE internship is to offer student an opportunity to use knowledge gained in the classroom to solve real-world problems in a professional setting;
Gain an understanding of an organizational structure of the company, its activities, and the basic functions of production/service and management units;

Gain experience in professional field and understanding of job responsibilities;

Understand needs of the profession;

Observe and understand professional organizational culture;

Learn corporate dynamics, decision-making process, power-sharing and distribution, colleagues’ interaction;

Outline professional goals and learning outcomes;

Develop skills of self-assessment-identification of new areas for growth;

Develop a mentoring relationship with professional network;

Practice communication skills: learn to listen, accept criticism and utilize feedback;

* Part of internship learning outcomes, CDCC utilizes – «A» Step to Successful Career program This seminar is for graduates of the Higher School of Economics and is aimed to develop the skills of successful positioning and promotion in the job market. The program helps students prepare for the job hunting process and develops the necessary skills such as time management, interview preparation, CV/cover letter writing tips, presentations, etc. Participants of the program receive a certificate of attendance and an additional credit towards Internship grade.

TRANSFERS/TERMINATION
In rare circumstances, an Intern will be allowed to transfer or terminate an internship placement. This action will be taken only with the final approval of the CDCC Chair and HSE Chair after meeting with the Intern, Faculty Supervisor, and Organization Supervisor and only after it is agreed that it is in the best interest of all those involved.

INTERN COMPENSATION
It is the Department’s philosophy that a high degree of professionalism must be maintained in the Internship program. We believe that this attitude is maintained by a strong professional commitment and a close working relationship between and among the Intern, the Organization, and the CDCC and faculty. We also believe that this idea can best be accomplished by a voluntary commitment on the part of the Intern; at the same time, though, we recognize the financial obligation required of Interns.
Therefore, the following policy is established:
Higher School of Economics CDCC allows an Intern the opportunity to receive compensation from the Organization during Internship. Possible compensation shall be negotiated between the Intern and the Organization during the contracting signing phase and shall be clearly stated on the Intern Contract and approved by the CDCC. Although recognizing that compensation is an arrangement between the Intern and Organization, HSE CDCCreserves the responsibility to ensure that the Internship experience fulfillsthegoals and expectations of the Department. If a problem arises, the Department may transfer an Intern to another organization or cancel university credit for the internship.