The Structure Of Internships
This note is based on practice at the Department Of Landscape Architecture, University of Professional Education Larenstein in Velp near Arnhem which is one of the main landscape architecture programmes in The Netherlands. Here, the internship is seen as a crucial phase in the curriculum of Landscape Architecture, Engineering and Management. Two internships of three months (50 working days) each at different offices are compulsory in the third year of the programme. In exeptional case one internship of six months is permitted.
The learning aims of the internship are:
Students learn to function in professional offices as landscape designers/engineers/managers.
Students learn to find their own professional path by orientating on the professional field of Landscape Architecture, Engineering and Management.
The student has to take the initiative to apply for an internship. The student formulates, within the frame of general aims, his/her own learning aims. The school keeps a list of professional landscape architecture offices and councils, but students are encouraged and supported to amke their own arrangments, whether nationally and internationally. The internship has to be approved by the school internship coordinator. It usually takes more time to arrange an internship abroad.
The school requires the office to provide a ’mentor’, that is a person responsible for the student. The internship school tutor visits the office to discuss process and progress with the student and the mentor. The internship being part of the study and students normally being paid their living wage, dutch offices will pay only compensation of costs.
The student presents a written and illustrated report containing a description and evaluation of the student’s office experience: projects and the office organisation.
How to make an application
Most offices prefer to receive a postal application with a covering letter, a short curriculum vitae and some A4 photocopies of drawing work. Try to address the letter personally to an individual. Do research work on the office practice before going for an interview. And don’t always expect an acknowledgement.
European Union and EEA citizens do not need a visa or work licence. Citizens of other European countries need to obtain a work permit.
Contacts:
Lists of Dutch landscape architecture offices are on the national association web site: www.nvtl.nl/bureaus/ Lists of vacancies for full time positions are on the Blauwe Kamer website http://www.blauwekamer.nl/vacatures.htm One employer who have done US style internships is the Staatsbosbeheer or State Forestry Service who have a significant landscape architecture section ref.: http://www.staatsbosbeheer.nl/.
30.6.2003 Marianne van Lidth de Jeude/ 30.6.2005 Robert Holden