Internship course in Master Health Care Management

As future leaders in healthcare, our students must learn to combine their extensive theoretical knowledge with professional behavior and practical skills. This duality is a guiding principle of our master’s programme Healthcare Management (HCM). Therefore, this duality is reflected by the courses competency-based educational goals and case-driven approach. Furthermore, this duality is reflected by the mixed composition of classes, consisting of Bachelor’s as well as Lateral-entry students. Whilst the latter group typically has considerable professional and practical experience, the former group usually lacks such experience. The HCM Internship course enables these students to gain the practical, on-the-job experience they need to truly become leaders in healthcare. Internship is one of the elective courses in our master program.

Goals

During the HCM Internship course students both study (attend classes, do coursework) and work alongside a top-manager, CEO, head of the policy advisor department or senior staff member of an organization in the healthcare setting. Organizations that are interesting for our students are for example (psychiatric) hospitals, nursing homes, health insurance companies, consultancy companies, patient advocate organizations, professional bodies. The internship allows students to confront their theoretical knowledge with the daily practice of healthcare organizations, and to search for theoretical knowledge for daily based problems. In addition, to observe and learn effective professional behavior, and to reflect on and develop their personal skills. Students are able to add relevant real-life working experience to their resume, thereby enhancing their future job opportunities considerably. Whereas students initially perform their tasks under supervision, they gradually become more independent and experienced and are therefore increasingly able to take on their ‘own’ projects.

Content of the Internship Course

The HCM Internship course spans at least five month period for at least two days a week (minimum amount of hours is 360. Students can start their internship during the year, however we recommend full time students to start in January due to their other obligations in the master program.
The HCM Internship course is made possible through the efforts of a healthcare (related) organization providing an internship position, the student, and the institute of Healthcare Policy and Management. The ‘hosting’ organization is expected to offer an adequate learning environment and to provide sufficient opportunities to observe, experience/work and reflect on the different aspects of the organization and professional life. Organizations are expected to appoint an experienced supervisor (HBO+ level and at least 5 years of relevant working experience) who is both available and knowledgeable. Students are expected to spent considerable time and energy on achieving their learning objectives and their personal and professional development. As well, students are required to do so on top of the regular coursework of the HCM master’s program. The Internship course therefore explicitly targets ambitious and highly motivated students. Finally, the role of institute of Healthcare Policy and Management is to collect and provide suitable vacancies to Master students. Furthermore, the institute is responsible for coordinating the program, supporting Master students and workplace supervisors and providing relevant information during internships. The specific tasks performed are based on the student’s abilities, preferences, and personal learning objectives, as well as the organization’s requirements and specific projects at hand. The student’s progress is monitored and reflected on. Furthermore, a performance review, a short reflection report, and a concluding conference call, in which the student’s development is discussed, marks the end of the internship.

Study workload and financial compensation

Students who have successfully completed the Internship course are accredited with 5 ECTS. Students and their supervisors are free to decide on the details of the student’s time investments, they are strongly urged to adhere to the available schedules for the master healthcare management. Especially the courses Quality and Safety and Governance and Strategy require attendance to the workgroups. The agreements with regards to the scope of the tasks, insurance and liability, and financial compensation, are formalized in a contract signed by the student, the organization and the institute of Healthcare Policy and Management. Although organizations are not required to offer students a monthly salary during the internship, a basic financial compensation is typically provided. Students may need to make additional expenses, such as travel expenses.

Main characteristics of the Internship Course:

  • Working in a healthcare setting under supervision of a manager, policy advisor or staff member.
  • Motivation, additional time and effort is required; the internship is fulfilled on top of addition regular coursework.
  • Duration is at least 2 days per week over a 5-month period.
  • Explicitly targets ambitious and highly motivated students.

Time Line

Months

Activity

During the year

Acquisition, selection and recruitment of organizations offering an internship.

 

Organizations can send a ‘vacancy-form’ for their internship.

September

In general students apply for vacancies posted by organizations, however students can choose to apply during the whole year.

 

Organizations selects potential candidates for job interviews.
Job interviews and internship agreement.

From October

Start of internship (mostly done by part time students).

 

Determining tasks, projects and learning objectives.

December / January

Start of internship (mostly done by full time students).
Determining tasks, projects and learning objectives.

After at least 360 hours

Performance review and reflection report by supervisor and student.
Conference call: end of internship with supervisor, student and coordinator of the course.


More information

For more information regarding the HCM Internship course, please contact the course coordinator, dr. Catharina van Oostveen (email: vanoostveen@eshpm.eur.nl) or by phone: +31 6 48945529.

General information for students is provided in the start week of the master Healthcare Management (first week of September). If you are interested to offer an internship to one of our students, please send in the vacancy form. Catharina van Oostveen will contact you afterwards.

FAQ

The HCM internship aims to provide highly motivated students with a practical understanding of healthcare management, offering real-world experience in a healthcare organisation setting.

Unlike regular internships, students in the HCM program are expected to steer their own development, gradually gaining competence and independence. They actively contribute to projects, moving beyond the role of a passive observer.

The internship is at least 360 hours, typically spanning 2 days per week for 5 months. Students work on (project) activities for the partner healthcare organisation.

Learning objectives include broadening knowledge of organisational life, implementing theoretical concepts in practical settings, developing consultancy and project management skills, and supporting the transition from academic knowledge to professional skills.

Personal learning objectives include expressing personal strengths and weaknesses, effective communication, proactive and result-oriented work, presentation skills, negotiation and influencing skills, critical reflection on theoretical knowledge, and understanding political relations and power structures.

Organisations benefit from access to novel theoretical insights, research skills, and a fresh perspective. The internship helps address specific healthcare management issues and offers insight into potential future employees' competence and skills.

Assessment includes adjusting general learning objectives to a personal development plan, maintaining a reflective learning diary, and a formal evaluation conversation with the student, internship supervisor, and course coordinator.

The final grade is determined based on a 'sufficient/insufficient' review of the student's functioning and personal development during the internship, assessed during the final evaluation conversation.

Students can contact Catharina van Oostveen, the coordinator, via email at vanoostveen@eshpm.eur.nl or by telephone at 06 - 48 94 55 29 for urgent matters.

Canvas provides resources such as the course book, internship vacancies, standardised internship agreement/contract, booklets for personal behavior and effectiveness training, journals supporting the workflow, and a peer support group for communication.

A representative from the organisation, with at least 5 years of experience on HBO+ level, supervises students throughout the internship. Regular meetings, at least twice a month, focus on guidance, feedback, and coaching. Weekly meetings are recommended initially.

Students register for the internship on Canvas (GW-4013MD) by uploading a resume and application letter. The application letter should express motivation for the specific internship, including the organisation and tasks.

Students send the motivation letter and resume to the organisation’s contact person (see vacancy form). Based on the application package send, organisations will decide which student(s) to invite for a formal ‘job interview’.

Yes, healthcare organisations may conduct a selection process due to limited vacancies. Students apply through Canvas, and organisations decide whom to invite for formal interviews.

A contract is established, detailing responsibilities of the student, organisation, and university. This includes confidentiality, use of research data, and financial reimbursement. The standard contract is available on Canvas and must be signed by the student, the partner organization and the university. . For the signature from the Erasmus School Health Policy and Management you need to go to the student service desk at the Bayle Building (J7) or osc@eshpm.eur.nl.

Students should participate in regular work processes, undertaking tasks such as research, project management, and contributing to interventions. The details of time investment and planning are decided in consensus with the organisation.

After three weeks, students adjust general learning objectives into specific goals based on the organisation's opportunities. This personal development plan is discussed and approved by the internship supervisor, serving as a guide to the internship.

Students maintain a weekly reflective diary on Canvas, discussing observations, experiences, and progress related to the learning objectives in the personal development plan. It serves as a source for the final report.

A performance review is conducted with the internship supervisor, using the Canvas entries as input. A final short report is written by the student, and a conference call is scheduled with the internship supervisor and the coordinator for a comprehensive evaluation.

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