SO/IN 395 - Internship Seminar: Social Action

This course combines the investigation of the cultural issues that inevitably surround working within a foreign environment with hands-on experience in the social sector. Students will be based in local NGOs, or voluntary centers, where they will assist with the organization’s tasks, and immerse themselves in the issues tackled. The course will mainly be based on the intercultural knowledge that the intern stands to gain through the workplace experience. In addition to Intercultural Studies, we will also consider other diverse but related areas such as Organizational Theory, Human Resources, Ethics and Spain’s economic situation.

The first part of the seminar aims to guide the student through their onsite experience in a local NGO and to relate to some of the main approaches underlying work in the voluntary sector.

The second part of the course will concentrate on the internationalization of companies and the consequent globalization of the economy. Business and economic activities are dominated by two fundamental elements: The opening of the markets, with a progressive elimination of physical and administrative barriers, and the intensive use of information and communication technologies. Managers and employees in general must be prepared to think globally, act locally and work digitally.

Companies and organizations increasingly value any international experiences on a candidate’s résumé. A worker with intercultural competence is more flexible, analytical, tolerant to change and open-minded. Everything that a global company needs!