Industrial Internship – Electrical Engineering, Information Technology and Computer Engineering (M.Sc.)

Guidelines for the professional practical activity of students of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology at RWTH Aachen University for the Master’s degree program in Electrical Engineering, Information Technology and Computer Engineering

1. Purpose and nature of the professional practical activity

The practical professional activity, hereinafter also referred to as professional practice, forms part of the professional skills taught in the Master’s degree program in Electrical Engineering, Information Technology and Computer Engineering. It enables the practical application of the knowledge and skills that have already been acquired to a large extent at the recommended time (3rd semester). It teaches application-specific methods and experience from the professional practice of an engineer and is also intended to promote interdisciplinary and social skills and facilitate the later transition into the profession. Practical work experience is therefore an important part of a successful course of study with regard to later professional activity and in particular an essential part of the Master’s degree course in Electrical Engineering, Information Technology and Computer Engineering.

During the professional practice, activities should be carried out that

• provide insights into the current range of tasks of engineers, particularly in modern processes and facilities for the development, project planning, and manufacturing of components and systems, as well as hardware and software creation and integration for electrical engineering, information technology, and/or computer engineering systems,
• include planning and methodical-conceptual components,
• are related to courses already attended during the Master’s program.

Organizational areas suitable for professional practice include: research, development, planning, calculation, project engineering, design and integration of components or systems (hardware and software), production, maintenance, quality testing, and commissioning.

It is recommended that the professional practice covers several of the areas mentioned above.
Furthermore, during the professional practice, focus should not only be placed on purely subject-specific problems but also on more general aspects of the working world. These include, among others:

• Organization, processes, and workflows as well as information management within the company, economic aspects, quality management, corporate culture, teamwork and social structures, occupational health and safety, security, and environmental protection.

The following are not suitable for professional practice:

Activities with no relation to electrical engineering, as well as activities that relate exclusively to administration, the creation or installation of software, the repair of devices, or the setup of domestic installations – to name a few typical examples.

2. Duration of the professional practical activity

The recognized professional practical activity must total at least 18 weeks and should be carried out during the Master’s program (intended for the 3rd semester). As a rule, it must be completed in one continuous period. If, in exceptional cases, the professional practical activity is carried out in segments, it must be noted that the activity in one company must last at least four consecutive weeks. Employment on an hourly or daily basis (part-time activities) does not correspond to the purpose of the professional practical activity and therefore cannot be recognized.
Missed working days (vacation, illness, other days off, but not public
holidays) must be made up.

3. companies for practical work experience and compliance with the guidelines

The knowledge and experience to be gained in the practical work can be acquired primarily in medium-sized and large industrial companies or in technology companies with a focus on system development. Industry-related research institutions are also suitable. Companies such as power plants, public authorities, institutions and start-up companies are also suitable, provided they can guarantee engineering supervision of the practical work experience.
Small businesses without a development or systems orientation or craft businesses are not eligible. Internships at colleges and universities or in one’s own or parental business are also not recognized.
The Internship Office of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology does not arrange internship placements, but it does provide advice regarding the suitability of internship positions in the sense of these guidelines.

4. Registration of the professional practical activity

To ensure the existence of suitable framework conditions for the professional practice, the student must submit a confirmation from the supervising company or institution when registering the intended professional practical activity with the Internship Office, stating that supervision and implementation will take place in accordance with the faculty’s guidelines. For this purpose, the student and the company or institution should ideally fill out the form available at the Internship Office or online. Alternative forms of confirmation are possible. The student and the supervising company or institution are themselves responsible for ensuring the proper implementation of the professional practice.

5. Substitute periods and exceptions

Activities as a working student (but not hourly or daily work), other training periods (e.g., relevant apprenticeships with a final examination before the Chamber of Industry and Commerce), and professional activities will be recognized insofar as they correspond to the purpose and nature of the professional practical activities in these guidelines and the activity took place in a company described in Section 3.
Training at vocational colleges or the acquisition of skills through courses does not correspond to the purpose of the professional practical activity and will therefore not be recognized.
The practical activity required within the framework of exchange programs (e.g., TIME double degree programs) can be determined by corresponding contractual regulations of the partner universities in order to take the specific requirements of both partners into account in an appropriate and balanced manner. For example, professional or research-oriented activities provided for in the curriculum at one university can be credited as professional practice by the other university.
Students with disabilities can agree on special arrangements regarding the professional practical activity with the Internship Office.

6. Reporting on the professional practical activity

The intern must prepare an internship report on their professional practical activity. This should initially include a coherent description of the activities performed. These should be supplemented by the experiences gained during the work (e.g., on workflows, the use of equipment such as devices and machines, methods, organizational regulations, effects on people and the environment, and also any problems encountered). A brief description of the internship company should also be included (industry, size, product range).
The description of activities and experiences should be as detailed as necessary so that it is clear from the report that the author performed the specified work themselves. Internal methods and processes that may need to be treated confidentially should be explained globally so that no trade secrets are affected.