As part of the bachelor’s program in Social, Health & Public Management at MCI, students complete a mandatory professional internship during their studies. The internship is designed to prepare them for careers in the social, health, and public sectors. During this time, students gain practical insights, apply knowledge from their studies, and get to know potential employers.
Our students complete their internships at a wide range of institutions and in different roles – for example in administration, quality management, human resource organization, or within leadership and project structures. This allows them to gain insights into the economic and organizational frameworks of institutions.
At the same time, many students also gain direct experience working with clients. These hands-on experiences help them understand the demands of the social, health, and public sectors and the structures required to enable meaningful work with people.
We spoke with several organizations about their experiences collaborating with our students. Below, Markus Preims, supervisor and head of the Jugendraum Neustift, shares some insights.
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Please briefly introduce your organization and your role.
Jugendraum Neustift is a municipal youth center subsidized by the Province of Tyrol for children and young people aged 10 to 25. Our work is guided by the principles of open youth work: openness, low-threshold access, relationship-building, counseling, participation, and strong integration within the community. Our team covers around 60 working hours per week and consists of staff with pedagogical and psychological training.
Three times a week, we open our doors in the afternoons and evenings as a meeting place for young people. In addition to our regular activities, we offer various leisure programs such as swimming and kayaking at the lake, sports and physical activities, workshops, creative projects, and cooking together. Our work is strongly relationship-oriented, and we advocate for the interests of young people. Staff members play, talk, advise, and accompany them through everyday life and, if desired, also through challenging phases.
What tasks do interns typically take on, and how do you ensure that they learn and contribute meaningfully?
Interns work alongside our full-time staff as equal members of the team. During opening hours, they are actively involved – playing games, cooking, talking, and providing support to the young people. They are never solely responsible, as we always ensure that at least two staff members are present. In addition, interns are encouraged to contribute their own ideas and share perspectives on individual young people. These are also discussed in team meetings and supervision sessions, which interns attend.
Through this active involvement in team processes, they gain insights not only into the pedagogical practice of open youth work but also into organizational aspects – such as planning activities, coordinating with municipal partners, and basic administrative processes. In this way, they develop an understanding of how social institutions are structured and how projects in the social sector are planned and implemented.
How is the internship supervision organized, and which competencies have proven particularly important for students?
Team meetings and supervision sessions provide space to discuss questions, reflect on challenges, and develop solutions together. At the same time, working in a small team of five people allows for close day-to-day exchange, where many topics can be addressed directly in everyday work.
Particularly valuable in this context are common sense, interpersonal skills, patience, and a genuine understanding of the life realities of young people. In addition, an analytical understanding of how a social organization operates, as well as the ability to collaborate with different stakeholders, is also important.
How do you experience the collaboration with interns from MCI?
Our current intern leaves a very competent and empathetic impression. She is not only friendly and helpful but also brings remarkable positive energy to her work with the young people. She truly immerses herself in their worlds and is able to have a noticeably positive influence on them. We are therefore completely satisfied with the collaboration.
What advice would you give students who are interested in doing an internship with you?
Authenticity – both with the team and with the young people.
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Our students complete a mandatory internship that specifically prepares them for careers after graduation. ©MCI/Gabl
Social, Health & Public Management | Bachelor
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