1. 1
ZUYD UNIVERSITY
FACULTY OF INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS AND COMMUNICATION
DEPARTMENT OF EUROPEAN STUDIES
INTERNSHIP PROFILE
The Maastricht European Studies programme is an all-round, generalist and Europe / internationally
oriented four-year Bachelor’s degree study which aims to provide its students with qualifications
enabling them to start a career in a wide range of jobs with international and multicultural aspects.
During the study programme, students of European Studies acquire a wide expertise in European
affairs and learn to speak at least two foreign languages besides their mother tongue. They are
aware of cultural differences within and beyond Europe and know how to deal with cross-cultural
issues.
In the first two years of the study programme, all our students acquire a wide range of skills in e.g.
Intercultural Communication, foreign languages (English, French, German and Spanish), ICT,
Marketing, European Law and Politics, and European Culture. During the third and fourth years,
students focus on one of the following specialisations:
 Communication and International Business
 Communication and Public Policy.
In these specialisations, project-based work plays an important role and students learn how to
cooperate efficiently and effectively in multidisciplinary and often also multicultural teams.
Organisational skills, interviewing techniques, management of group processes and professional
personal development are considered to be major characteristics of the European Studies
programme. Applied research and international projects are integrated into the curriculum from the
very beginning of the study programme.
In international markets there is an increasing demand for people who have learned to put their own
cultural background into perspective and to look beyond their personal horizons. Cultural differences
do not become apparent until one has experienced them in person, when one has left the usual
surroundings. For this reason, the European Studies programme requires students to spend one
semester abroad at a partner university during the third year of studies. This study abroad semester
greatly contributes to the international orientation that our graduates develop.
To further enhance the students’ international expertise and competences and to allow them to put
their skills and knowledge into practice, they are required to gain international work experience by
means of a internship in the fourth and final year of the study programme. At the same time,
internationally operating companies and institutions can benefit from the students’ input by
involving them in practical or research assignments at relatively low cost.

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General competences of students of European Studies
Students
1. can carry out independent research, applying suitable research methods. They can write a
professional report on their research activities.
2. can work thematically, i.e. they can formulate a problem and divide a project into
manageable proportions. They can manage projects in terms of time, money, quality,
information and organisation.
3. can make use of modern information technology
4. can deliver professional oral presentations, using modern media.
5. can make adequate use of interviewing techniques.
6. are analytical and have problem-solving qualities.
7. have a good command of English and two other foreign languages.
8. have insight into international situations and developments that are relevant to their future
professions in an international context.
9. are familiar with aspects of European history, the structure and organisation of the
European institutions, European economic, legal, cultural and social policies, the major
aspects of European regulations and cultural differences.
10. are aware of the major notions of mass communication and public relations, intercultural
communication, marketing techniques, economics and business management.
Specialisation Communication and International Business
This specialisation trains students for international jobs in the field of communication (e.g. PR Officer,
Consultant, Events Manager, Marketing Manager, Project Manager, Marketing Communication
Officer). They are familiar with theories and processes of communication and the impact on
organisations; the fields of internal communication, concern communication and marketing
communication; modern information technology and mass media. They can e.g.:
 design project plans and communication plans for specific target groups
 organise conferences and congresses
 advise managers on (intercultural) communication issues
 select media and communication tools that are used in internal, concern and marketing
communication
 maintain media contacts and act as spokespersons for organisations.
Specialisation Communication and Public Policy
Students of the Public Policy specialisation are trained for positions in the field of international public
administration (e.g. Project Coordinator, Secretary to a Member of the European Parliament, Civil
Servant, PR Assistant Local Government, Information Officer, Policy Assistant European Relations,
Assistant in the Foreign Office). They are familiar with theories concerning European and
international law, European political systems, theories concerning public policy and governance, the
position and role of European and international law in the context of national law, the role of
intergovernmental and non-governmental organisations in society and functional policies in fields
such as environmental policy, policy with regards to developing countries, human rights policy and
immigration issues. These students can e.g.:
 actively contribute to the execution of international policies, international treaties and
international legislation
 advise international companies or institutions on European policies and regulations
 assist in the implementation of international or interregional cooperation at national,
provincial and local levels
 analyse opportunities for international governmental and non-governmental organisations
 do research into European funding opportunities.

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Practical information on internships
During the second half of the fourth and final year of studies, students are to gain practical work
experience related to the student’s specialisation and the professional profile of the European
Studies programme. During a full-time internship, which is an obligatory part of their study
programme, students have to work on a practical assignment or a research project (or a combination
of these) under the supervision of the company or organisation concerned.
The assignments and/or research should have an international dimension, which requires a
theoretical foundation. They are expected to put their knowledge and skills of communication in the
private or public sector into practice, preferably abroad. Placements in The Netherlands should have
a distinct international focus.
The students’ performance is to be assessed by the company supervisor during and at the end of the
internship, in close cooperation with Zuyd University of Applied Sciences.
Furthermore, unless students have an exemption from the exam board European Studies, at least
40 % of the internship must consist of a relatively independent assignment/research to be carried
out by the student resulting in a research report. This report will be assessed by a Zuyd lecturer.
During the internship, the lecturer will monitor the students’ performance by means of regular
interim reports and in many cases one visit.
Generally speaking, the internship will take 18 weeks, in the period of mid of February – mid-June
2016. The average workload is 720 hours (18 weeks of 40 hours).
For more information, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Contact
Internship Office FIBC
Zuyd University of Applied Sciences
Faculty of International Business and Communication
Ms Pascalle Manderveld
P.O. Box 634, 6200 AP MAASTRICHT, THE NETHERLANDS
T +31 43 3466278
www. zuyd.nl
pascalle.manderveld@zuyd.nl
www.europeanstudies-maastricht.nl