Universitat Internacional de Catalunya
Work Placement
Other languages of instruction: Catalan, English
Teaching staff
Introduction
The external internships at the biomedical company are designed for students to acquire and consolidate their practical knowledge of everything they have learned so far and to achieve the necessary competency levels to qualify for the company mention.
During these internships, students will develop a project under the supervision of an established professional, where they will gain knowledge not only about the methods used but also about the state of the art in the field where the project is developed and the critical analysis of the results obtained.
In addition, the course contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda, particularly SDGs 3, 9, 10, 12, and 17, through the promotion of health, people’s well-being, biomedical innovation, social equity, transparency in results, and strategic partnerships for scientific and social progress.
Pre-course requirements
In order to enrol in external internships, students should have passed:
- Biomedical Industry Introduction
- Entrepreneurship & Innovation
Objectives
- Encourage the students' communication skills and teamwork abilities.
- Facilitate independent work and the resolution of problems that may arise in the biomedical field.
- Promote compliance with the company’s confidentiality regulations.
- Foster meaningful professional relationships within the company and with clients.
Competences/Learning outcomes of the degree programme
- CN14 - Identify the principles of biomedical sciences related to health, as well as the basic concepts and tools that have an impact on Biomedical Sciences and allow them to work in any of its fields (biomedical companies, bioinformatics labs, research laboratories, clinical analysis companies, etc.).
- CP05 - Apply biological foundations in the search for practical solutions to health problems, following ethical standards and scientific rigour and respecting fundamental equal rights between men and women, and the promotion of human rights and the values inherent in a peaceful society of democratic values that includes inclusive, non-discriminatory language without stereotypes.
Learning outcomes of the subject
At the end of the course, students should:
- Identify the structure, operations, and dynamics of the biomedical company.
- Apply scientific and technical concepts acquired during their academic training to analyze and solve biomedical problems.
- Demonstrate the ability to adapt to the dynamics of a biomedical company, integrating into its workflows and organizational culture.
- Relate knowledge of biology, biotechnology, or bioinformatics to the company’s needs.
- Effectively manage demands and priorities in a professional environment.
Syllabus
The professional internships are carried out in a biomedical company through an agreement. They will consist of 200 in-person hours, which will be developed during the academic year within working hours, approximately from 9 AM to 4 PM. The remaining hours to complete this course will be dedicated to tutoring by the academic advisor, studying and preparing for the assigned job position, and writing an evaluation report of the internship, reflecting what the students have contributed to the company and what they have gained from the experience.
Teaching and learning activities
In person
- External internships in a biomedical company – 200 hours. These will be in-person and mandatory for students, who must complete at least 200 hours of internship. The distribution of the internship hours is flexible and should be agreed upon with the host company. The internships should begin in the second semester and preferably be full-time.
- Individual tutoring: 2 mandatory tutoring sessions, with a maximum of 10 hours with the academic tutor, to allow for proper monitoring of the students and continuous evaluation throughout the internship. These sessions may be held in person or online, depending on the availability of the tutor and the students, while respecting the academic schedule as much as possible.
- Autonomous work: This may vary between students, and they are expected to dedicate time to finding literature to support their project and write a brief report on their internship experience.
Evaluation systems and criteria
In person
The evaluation methods are based on a series of evaluation reports from the external tutor and the assessment of the internship report by the academic tutor.
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Final evaluation of the internship (60%): The external tutor will submit a report at the end of the internship hours. This report will allow for the final evaluation of the student’s progress, both professionally and technically.
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Internship report (40%): The student must write a report on their internship experience and their contribution to the project. This report will be evaluated by the academic tutor.
The internship report should be written solely by the student and serves as evidence of the knowledge gained during the internship, as well as offering a critical reflection on the added value of a biomedical professional to the project or the organization’s overall strategy.
Important considerations
- To be evaluated, the student must have completed the two minimum mandatory tutorials and the minimum 200 hours in the company.
- To pass the subject, the weighted average must be equal to or greater than 5.
- A minimum score of 5 must be obtained in the internship report to pass the course.
- Plagiarism, copying, or any other actions considered cheating will result in a zero for that section of the evaluation.
- In the second and subsequent calls, the same criteria will be applied but the qualification of honours cannot be obtained, so the maximum qualification will be excellent.
- In the event of complaints from the company, students may be penalized with the suspension of the subject in the 1st call in the case of a minor reprimand or even in the 1st and 2nd in the case of a serious reprimand.