As part of the Bachelor's program in Social, Health & Public Management, all students complete an integrative internship. This provides an opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge directly in domestic or international companies and organizations. The internship receives organizational support from the degree program and is supervised in close coordination with the respective host organization.
The report of an MCI student about his internship at the Association for the Homeless (Verein für Obdachlose – VfO) in Innsbruck demonstrates just how valuable this practical phase is for personal and professional orientation.
I had the great fortune of supporting one of the two managing directors of the VfO daily as his 'right-hand person.' As a result, I gained comprehensive insights into the day-to-day operations of executive management and experienced firsthand how a non-profit organization is successfully run.
I was able to accompany him to meetings with the City of Innsbruck as well as to gatherings of key alliances and working groups in homelessness assistance. During this time, I engaged with current topics such as media coverage in the ORF (Austrian Broadcasting Corporation) and the Tiroler Tageszeitung, campaign planning for the upcoming state elections, and municipal workshops on subjects like addiction, youth, and care in the context of housing availability. A particular highlight was the networking: I was able to establish valuable contacts with decision-makers from politics and social welfare organizations.
Since I am studying law alongside my degree at MCI, my internship was particularly exciting from a legal perspective. My time there coincided with the period following the entry into force of the new Tyrolean Minimum Income Act (Tiroler Mindestsicherungsgesetz) on July 1, 2026. Together with legal professionals, I had the opportunity to challenge administrative decisions before the Regional Administrative Court and participate in legal discussions regarding the constitutionality of legislative texts.
In addition to management tasks, I also got to know the various facilities of the VfO – from the day center/soup kitchen (Teestube, where we even filmed a segment for the TV channel ARTE) to the clothing distribution service and mobile social assistance.
These experiences clearly highlighted my professional strengths: While daily direct care in the social sector is mentally demanding, my strengths lie in the administrative and legal fields. By combining my two degree programs, I aim to contribute at both management and legal levels to support social institutions sustainably in the future.
A big thank you also goes to MCI: I originally met the managing director of the VfO at a campus event. This shows just how important these events are for us students!
My conclusion: The fantastic team at the VfO guided me through the internship with great support. This blend of management, law, and hands-on practice made the internship both highly educational and engaging.
©MCI/Gabl
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