Internship I MPA Specialization Policy

URL study guide

https://studiegids.vu.nl/en/courses/2024-2025/AM_1121

Course Objective

The aim of internship I is to apply the knowledge and competences acquired during the previous courses in a research project, in order to ground the knowledge, attitudes and skills of trans
- or interdisciplinary research. More specifically, during Internship I:
• The student conducts scientific research under supervision.
• The student is able to find scientific information and to evaluate this for the benefit of his or her own research question under supervision .
• The student is able to apply scientific methods and knowledge, to answer research questions and to generate evidence‐based knowledge under supervision.
• The student is able to formulate a research question, to choose, to implement and to evaluate the (appropriate) research method, and to phrase the obtained results in report under supervision.
• The student learns to cooperate with researchers of various disciplines.
• The student learns to orally present the research results and to discuss the findings.
• The student obtains a good impression of a potential future field of career.

Course Content

The internship is a compulsory part of the Master MPA. The duration of the internship is 5 months (27 EC). An internship placement must provide the student with the opportunity to learn how to conduct research under supervision. The onsite supervisor of the internship is linked to an academic or research institution. Internships can be conducted at various locations such as the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sports, the Public Health Inspectorate, the Health Council, medical and sustainability organizations such as the municipality health service (GGD), consultancies, and several research institutes, such as universities or e.g. the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) and the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (PBL); . An internship typically has three phases: In the first phase, you write your research proposal consisting of an introduction, background, theoretical/conceptual framework, research questions and your research methodology.In the second phase, you collect your (qualitative and/or quantitative) data.In the third phase, you do your final analysis and present your findings both orally and in a report. The presentation seminar is a compulsory part of this third phase.

Teaching Methods

Research internship

Method of Assessment

Report: grade 1-10, weight = 55% Oral presentation: grade 1-10, weight = 15% Execution: grade 1-10, weight = 30% Attitude: pass/fail Within six weeks after the start of the master internship, an interim evaluation will take place to assess whether there is a reasonable chance of the placement being brought to a successful completion. The internship is supervised and assessed by two lecturers. Both lecturers are members of the academic staff at VU University Amsterdam. The onsite supervision can be carried out by a trainee research assistant (AIO), postdoc or researcher.

Target Audience

Students MSc MPA year 1

Additional Information

Internships can only start when the draft research proposal and application and agreement form is approved and signed by the specialization coordinator. To ensure that students do have enough background knowledge, it is required that you have passed the three compulsory courses: ‘Research Methods for Analyzing Complex Problems’, ‘Communication Organization and Management’, and ‘Analysis of Governmental Policy’. Information on Master internships is made available on Canvas.