Project-oriented course in a company or organization

You can choose the project-oriented course in the 5th semester of your BA and the 3rd semester of your MA. In the 5th semester, the course should correspond to 7 weeks of full-time work, including the work period in an organization, report writing, and the exam. The 5th semester course can be arranged, for example, with 2 days a week in the company and the rest of the week at the university. You will agree on this with the company. The course replaces 10 ECTS credits. In the 3rd semester of your MA, the course requires at least 13 weeks of full-time work, covering the work period in an organization, report writing, and the exam. This course replaces 30 ECTS credits.

Whether you're reading this in your 5th semester of your BA or 3rd semester of your MA, you will gain:

• Contacts and networking
• Real-world experience to add to your CV with
• completed practical tasks
• Documented professional practice experience
• Knowledge and insight into how to achieve your personal "best practice"
• Insight into the different dimensions of working life (relationships with professional colleagues, diversity in tasks and routines, participation in the workplace's organizational culture.

In relation to your studies, you will gain clarity on:

• Which parts of the degree you most want to work with and within
• Which parts you least want to work with and within

The project-oriented course is a way to bring many pieces together. In the intersection between your academic skills and competencies and real-world practice, you will gain clarity on how you can professionally contribute to business and the labor market.

The project-oriented course in practice gives a huge advantage and head start when you later enter the workforce

In early February, your coordinator for the project-oriented course will inform you about the course structure. This includes, among other things:

• Special academic focus points
• Deadlines for the upcoming semesters

Specific points regarding the curriculum and how to follow them in the best way.
By early May, it is your responsibility to apply for a position in an organization or company where your project-oriented course will take place. Remember that this application process often requires several applications. Help and inspiration for finding a position can be found:

• In the Moodle forum for internship postings
• In the AAU Job Bank
• At the Career Center's Career Fairs
• By contacting the coordinator for your project-oriented course
• Through social media – LinkedIn – make sure your profile is updated and looks professional
• Networking – family and friends.

Once the agreement for your project-oriented course is negotiated, the agreement document must be filled out and sent to your coordinator. The coordinator must approve the course. Only after the coordinator has approved the agreement is it valid!

At the end of August, your project-oriented course in practice begins. During the course, you will solve the tasks specified in your agreement.

It is important for your course that you ensure you become part of the organization you are attached to. Through affiliation with the organization or company, you gain insight into how your academic knowledge can be applied and contribute positively to practice.

From an educational perspective, it is recommended that you maintain observations and reflections on your work and contributions during the practical course in a portfolio. Your portfolio will be invaluable when you write the report for your project-oriented course because it documents more specifically which tasks you have completed and what you have worked on.

The first month in professional practice can be a tough time. This is completely normal, as there are many new things to adapt to: new types of tasks, new colleagues, new routines, and different habits that are likely very different from academic habits. The whole idea behind the project-oriented course is that you get the opportunity to apply in practice what theory has already taught you. This means you will, for example, have to learn how to write press releases, act as a developer in design processes, and concretely test, analyze, and develop user interfaces.

In December, you must submit a report that documents and reflects on your project-oriented course. The project will be examined differently depending on whether you are in a project-oriented course on the 5th semester (bachelor's) or the 3rd semester (master's). Be sure to pay attention to the specific exam information during the early orientation meeting and via posts from the study office.

You must use the agreement that corresponds to the semester and study program applicable to your project-oriented course. You need to complete the agreement together with the contact person in the organization you will be affiliated with during the project-oriented course. All formalities must be correct and valid. This includes working carefully with the contact person to describe the tasks you will be solving during the project-oriented course. It is a good idea to have the specific study program text with you during this part of the process.

Communication

This means that for students in Communication, there must be tasks with a focus on communication studies. During the course, you will gain knowledge about "... how communication science methods and theories meet practice, with a particular focus on cultural, organizational, and/or media-related issues." Refer to the study regulations for the Master's degree in Communication.

Experience Design and Interactive Digital

For students in Experience Design and Interactive Digital Media, you will be involved in developing "...one or more concepts/products or a component of one or more concepts/products that involve digital elements." The key aspect here is 'digital elements'. Go to the study regulations for the Master's program in Interactive Digital Media.

Information Science/Information Studies

Students in Information Science must participate in solving tasks based on an information science foundation during their internship. The tasks must be outlined in the agreement. Information science tasks include, but are not limited to: user analysis, pilot studies, studying work and practice processes, design and development of ICT systems, including working with prototypes and involving users in the development and design process, implementation and evaluation of ICT systems, including supporting learning and competence development processes related to the adoption of ICT systems.

Students at Aalborg: Go to the curriculum for the Master's program in Information Science.

Students at Copenhagen: Go to the Curriculum for the Master's Programme in Information Technology (Information Studies)

Generally: agree on a task

For all, it is a good idea to agree on a task that will be your own. A task that the organization may or may not be able to use, but that you can solve and receive feedback on. This task will be important when writing the report for your studies.

Yes! You have the opportunity to work on your own startup idea through SEA. However, you must ensure that you document both the practice-related tasks and the academic learning objectives.

Yes, but it is only the report that has not been passed and needs to be rewritten; it is not the project-oriented internship itself.

Then you need to get in touch with the International Office. It is important to plan ahead, as you will need to apply for visas, etc. Announcements for internships abroad can be found in the AAU Jobbank

No! The project-oriented internship is part of your education, and you will receive SU (Danish state educational support) during the period. Therefore, you are not employed but rather a student in a project-oriented program.

It can be agreed that the host covers your travel expenses or rent (in the case of double rent) during the internship, but this is solely an agreement between you (and the Tax Authority) and has nothing to do with AAU. Be sure to check whether the amounts are taxable.

However, you may receive a token payment of up to 3,000 DKK before tax per month from the internship host. This payment must not be considered a fixed, predetermined salary. It will be an arrangement between you, the Tax Authority, and the host. For more information, refer to the Executive Order on amendments to the Executive Order on Bachelor's and Master's degree programs at universities.