Gaining work experience during your studies as an Education and Globalisation student
This was a main concern of mine because I thought I would not be able to get as much out of a master’s degree as someone who was more knowledgeable and had more experience on the topic. In addition, I was worried my lack of work experience would make it harder for me to find an internship or a job after graduation.
For this reason, if you find yourself in a similar situation, I hope this blog is helpful for you!
Step 1- Finding a relevant internship
In Education and Globalisation programme, students are expected to find their own internships. But there is no reason to panic! The university offers plenty of resources and support to students to help them find opportunities. For instance, in the Faculty of Education, our professors often publish internship positions in projects or research groups they are part of!
Also, the university has its own job portal, Valojobs, where companies also advertise internship opportunities. In addition, the Career Centre is always available to help students in their internship and job-hunting process. Be it building your CV, improving your networking skills, or giving tips in job-searching- the Career Centre has your back!
Landing an internship that matches your interests and expectations can take time- so it is a good idea to start early!
Step 2- Figure out what you want out of your internship
In my case, I knew I wanted to do an internship in a research group since that would give me research experience and strengthen my research skills- which are super useful in the field I am interested in!
In my case, I got offered my current fellowship position through my first internship, so I would recommend being strategic when thinking about your first internship since it can open many doors for you and make it easier to get future opportunities. In my experience, it is useful to have an idea of what you expect to get out from your internship- be it specific skills or networking and remember to be open and communicate with your supervisor!
Step 3- Finland and the University of Oulu have your back!
One of the main things that surprised me when I started researching about doing an internship during my master’s was how many funding opportunities there were! Coming from Spain, unpaid internships are the norm, so it has been great to learn all the different ways I can get funding for doing an internship.
If you are planning on doing an internship in Europe, you can get a monthly stipend through the Erasmus traineeship grant. Similarly, if you want to do your internship outside of Europe there is a grant available specifically for that. In case you rather get work experience in Finland, you will be happy to know that often internships are paid in Finland!
In conclusion, I would say that the university offers many resources and support if you are eager to get work experience during your studies. Make sure you are active in your search and reach out if you need help!
About the author
Núria from Barcelona, Spain, is a second-year master’s student of Education and Globalisation. Her hobbies include travelling, reading, and complaining about the cold weather despite being secretly in love with winter in Oulu.