By making internships and community projects an integral part of the curriculum, AUC emphasises the importance of giving back to the community and providing opportunities for students to develop their professional and interpersonal skills through real-world experience.
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Experiential learning through Community Projects and Internships
A Community Project (CP) or Internship (I) is the point where the real world meets the AUC curriculum head-on. This is when a student leaves the classroom and integrates academic learning and lectures with life and even potential careers.
Students are required to complete at least one Community Project or Internship. Students enrol for a Community Project or Internship as a separate course, which must meet the minimum hour requirements for a course of 6 ECP. This translates to 168 hours in total. This can be done either in January or June by working full-time (40 hours per week over four weeks) or during the 16-week period semester by working about 10 hours per week. Community Projects and Internships can also be completed over the summer (July and August).
Starting in Spring 2024, students can also undertake a 30 EC internship. This internship allows students to conduct academic research for an entire semester, supervised by an internal supervisor at AUC and an external supervisor at the host research department. For students who aspire to a future career in research, this internship makes it possible to delve into the world of academic research and strengthen necessary industry skills.
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Differences between a Community Project and an Internship
Community projects and Internships differ in their general focus, but also in their contributions to learning goals.
Community Projects
Community Projects offer students the opportunity to serve a community and develop social and civic awareness. They are intended to promote engagement at local, national and global levels, and they are intended to foster personal and social responsibility.
Internships
Internships offer students the opportunity to gain practical work experience, develop research skills in their field of study and help prepare students for future professional or academic careers. Internships must specifically contribute to the development of academic skills as defined in the Academic Standards and Procedures.
An Internship offers students a chance to develop their professional skills, but in practice, both a Community Project and Internship may provide students with experiences that enhance what they have studied in the classroom and prepare them for a career in their chosen field. During their time at AUC, students may also do both a Community Project and an Internship.
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Final report and evaluation
At the conclusion of their Community Project or Internship, students submit a final report in which they reflect on the learning outcomes and their supervisor's evaluation. The report typically discusses the professional skills they've learned, the personal development they've witnessed, progress on their interpersonal skills and how the experience has shaped their ideas on citizenship.
Students who complete research based internships, such as the 30 EC internship, will also write a content-based report that outlines, among other things, their findings and conclusions.
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CPI Manuals and Guidelines
The file below details the guidelines, desired learning outcomes and evaluation methods used for Community Projects and Internships at AUC.
AUC CPI Manuals and Guidelines 2023-2024 (valid from Autumn 2023) are forthcoming.
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Student experiences
With each student completing a Community Project or Internship during their time at AUC, the diversity of the organisations and initiatives they've worked with is continually expanding. As each student is unique, so is their Community Project or Internship.
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Questions about Community Projects and Internships?
Students, organisations and others interested in the Community Projects and Internships programme at Amsterdam University College should contact the CPI office via the email address below.
Current AUC students should look on the student information portion of Canvas for more information related to the CPI programme, including the application process, report deadlines and a list of CPI partners/openings.