Type of course

The student must be enrolled in the GENI program at either University of Tromsø or University of Saskatchewan.

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Course content

Course Description The internship is required in the Joint Master¿s Program in Governance and Entrepreneurship in Northern and Indigenous Areas (GENI). The aim of the internship is to prepare students for the thesis work, as well as to build capacity among students by providing experience working with industry, government, indigenous organizations and institutions, and other organizations and stakeholders; fostering professional networks; and serving the research needs of northern community organizations and other stakeholders.Course Content The internship period constitutes the praxis period of the program in the second semester. As a basis for the choice of methods in the praxis period and for the research project, the course will first focus on practical aspects of multidisciplinary research with social sciences as the point of departure, and give an overview of basic methodological tools as a preparation for collecting data. The internship will be a venue for students to acquire relevant work experience during the study period and establish useful contacts for future job searches and/or joining professional networks. The duration of the internship is 180 hours, in addition to orientation classes and writing of the research paper. The internship may take on three forms: (1) Knowledge synthesis, (2) Program, policy and management analyses, or (3) Assessment of needs and implementation gaps.Knowledge synthesis: This type of internship will consist of an in-depth analysis of core issues on the topic. Depending on the research question, this may include a summary of major issues involved, best practices, or how the issue has been addressed in other jurisdictions or regions, and any pertinent data.Program, policy and management analyses: Students assigned to this type of internship will be asked to analyze the effectiveness of a specific program, policies or management arrangements. This could take many forms, such as a process-evaluation, which examines the extent to which the program model or implementation is serving the target population or works as expected. The internship course is closely linked to the course on Methodology and Policy Planning.Assessment of needs and implementation gaps: By definition, a needs assessment is a systematic process for determining and addressing needs, or gaps between current conditions and desired conditions. Students assigned this type of internship will be required to identify the problems and present possible solutions for their host organization. This also involves addressing problems of implementing rights and policies. Students will be assigned the internship topic, which will impact the form of internship. The first week of training for the internship, students will be prepared for how to conduct the evaluation. This will cover questions to be included in an interview or survey. Independent of which form the individual internship takes, all students may be required to do a brief knowledge synthesis, identify and meet with stakeholders, implement the methodology, collect and analyze the data and write a written report, including recommendations.  

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Objectives of the course

Learning outcomesStudent acquired knowledge By the end of the course, students will have acquired advanced knowledge around critical issues related to a practical and empirical field of Northern governance, innovation and Northern indigenous issues in general.Student acquired skills By the end of the course, students will have skills in practical research as well as having gained and applied professional skills.  They will be able to critically evaluate how some measures have been successful and some not. In addition, students will be able to use relevant methods for research to compile the data for a project, and design and deliver an academic poster at an organized event.Student acquired competence By the end of the course students will be able to conduct independent applied research for and with a northern organization, institution, industry or government. They will be able to develop and maintain professional leadership networks to support northern communities with innovative and entrepreneurial approaches.  

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Language of instruction and examination

English

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Teaching methods

Delivery The internship is focused on service learning, where the student conducts research for a community partner on a question of practical relevance to the organization/institution/company. Students are guided by academic supervisors from the University of Tromsø and the University of Saskatchewan, as well as a responsible contact person within the host organization who will provide direction during the internship period. Students are assigned their research project ¿ that is, they do not choose them freely.Internship schedule   First module    Introductory seminars on methods, meeting on preparing internship period, orientations in class and academic supervision Second module    Internship Third module    Report writing The timeline below is designed to guide students and supervisors, but should be tailored to schedules and research projects.

Milestones Introductory meetings (via video-conferencing) Orientation and planning meeting in Tromsø and Saskatoon Regular meetings and communication with academic supervisor Mid-project progress update to academic supervisor, GENI-coordinator and internship host Final report due, passed to Sesam or ICNGD Safety A contract will be signed with each internship partner. The partners are required to prepare the students for work in their organization and also provide them with necessary security training.  

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Assessment

Assessment and grading A mid-project progress update must be passed to academic supervisor, GENI-coordinator and internship host by June 1st. The course is assessed through a written report of maximum 10 pages (4000 words) after the internship period. Final report due, has to be passed to Sesam or ICNGD by August 31st. The report may constitute a part of the Project thesis. The report shall draw attention to aspects of one of the following research areas: Northern governance and communication, entrepreneurship and indigenous innovation, resource economics, resource management and environmental management, capacity building, social and health issues. The report shall draw upon relevant literature from other courses in the GENI. The applied grading of the report is passed or failed.  The course is open for re-sit examination. The report must be written in English. A GENI Internship Handbook is developed including guidelines for the internship period, including proper work etiquette, conduct and expectations, ethics, funding, the role of supervisor, and timelines and deadlines.  

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