6 ECTS credits
180 h study time

Offer 1 with catalog number 4023169ENR for all students in the 1st and 2nd semester at a (E) Master - advanced level.

Semester
1st and 2nd semester
Enrollment based on exam contract
Impossible
Grading method
Grading (scale from 0 to 20)
Can retake in second session
No
Enrollment Requirements
You can only enroll if you succeed the selectionprocess. More information is available via Canvas. For questions, please contact studypath.es@vub.be
Taught in
English
Faculty
Faculty of Social Sciences & SolvayBusinessSchool
Department
Business
Educational team
Michael Dooms (course titular)
Bruno Moeremans
Fanny Soyeur
Activities and contact hours

4 contact hours Lecture
176 contact hours Independent or External Form of Study
Course Content

This course offers the student the possibility to participate to a practical project abroad (from 6 weeks to 3 months) under the form of: 

  • Collaborative international advisory/consultancy project with students from other universities, commissioned by external organizations 
  • International team assignments supporting entrepreneurs or projects abroad 

The course differs from traditional internships as more autonomy is expected from the students while carrying out their assignment. Guidance during the assignment is offered both from the education team, and, to a lesser extent, the commissioning organization.  

Assignments include but are not restricted to: market research, business development, functional analysis of processes, contributing to business planning, contributing to strategy formulation projects, product and service development, setting up monitoring systems and KPIs,… Assignments are defined jointly between the education team, the commissioning organization/partner and the students.  

Assignments take place within structural framework agreements the VUB has with other external parties (other universities, companies, government institutions, others). During the assignment, in function of the interaction needs, the VUB Education follows up through e-mail, Skype or Whatsapp communication.  

Application and selection processes apply; modalities are communicated via e-mail and social media. Information sessions are organized at various moments during the academic year (typically at the start, and at other events e.g. internship and job fairs, information sessions about practical courses, etc.). 

Additional info

Course material: Information session slides.

Learning Outcomes

Algemene competenties

  • Complete a practical assignment in a real-life business setting; 
  • Function within an intercultural and international team setting;  
  • Use of modern communication tools for virtual/remote project collaboration; 
  • Present results of assignments in a professional way to external organizations. 

Grading

The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Practical Exam determines 100% of the final mark.

Within the Practical Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

  • Written Report with a relative weight of 100 which comprises 100% of the final mark.

Additional info regarding evaluation

After the assignment, the student is expected to send a main report of minimum 3 000 words including: 

  • A written report about the different tasks executed, including statement of the problem(s) to be solved/analysed, methodology, project management, and description of the main results/achievements. 
  • A written personal, individual reflection, evaluating the experience in terms of the competences obtained, personal and team challenges encountered, and potential improvements. 

The main report should be complemented by the main outputs of the project (documents, MS PowerPoint Presentations, other outputs) as separate annexes. The report is to be sent electronically to internship.business@vub.be  

In the case of teamwork, the individual contribution should be clear from the written report. Annexes provided can be joint outputs from the teamwork.  

In case of unclarities, an oral presentation might be demanded by the education team. 

Allowed unsatisfactory mark
The supplementary Teaching and Examination Regulations of your faculty stipulate whether an allowed unsatisfactory mark for this programme unit is permitted.

Academic context

This offer is part of the following study plans:
Master of Business Engineering: Standaard traject (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Business Economics: Standaard traject (only offered in Dutch)
Master of International Business: Standaard traject
Master of Business Engineering: Business and Technology: Standaard traject