Definitions and guidelines for conducting curricular internships

1. Definition

The term "Training Internships" refers to a type F training activity worth 6 credits, aimed at acquiring knowledge useful for entering the workforce, as part of the second-year requirements for the Master’s Degree programs in the LM-51 class managed by the School of Psychology at the University of Florence. This activity is referred to as "Training Internships" for the Master's Degree program in Clinical Psychology and Health Psychology and Neuropsychology, and "Training Internships and Deontology" for the Master's Degree program in Psychology of the Life Cycle and Contexts.

The assessment of the competencies achieved by the student in this training activity is expressed through a pass/fail evaluation.

 

2. Purpose of the Training Internships

The purpose of the training internships is to place the student in a work environment relevant to psychology with the following objectives:

1. Familiarizing with the organizational context, analyzing its institutional mission, the regulatory framework within which activities are conducted, and the organizational structure;
2. Gaining insight into the prevailing communication models, with particular attention to vertical, horizontal, and group dynamics in the observed contexts;
3. Identifying the main psychological needs manifested in the context and the ways the staff addresses these needs.

If a Psychology Service is present, it is essential that the student comes into contact with the operational practices of this service, understands its goals and duties, its organizational model and structure, is able to describe the formal and informal competencies required for the various roles, and is able to identify the models or practices enabling multidisciplinary integration of competencies.

The learning objectives of this course aim to provide the first comparison between the competencies acquired by the student during their studies and the demands of the work environments, constituting an important phase in the personal development and professional demeanor of the future psychologist.

The materials on professional ethics aim to analyze the ethical, deontological, and legal aspects related to the professional activity of the psychologist, with particular reference to the principles outlined in the Ethical Code of Italian Psychologists and in Legislative Decree 196/03 (privacy regulations).

 

3. Attendance Requirement

Attendance for the Training Internship activity is mandatory. The activity, called "Training Internships," can be undertaken in either the first or second semester, but must be completed by September 30 of each academic year.

 

4. Breakdown of Activities

The Board of the Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology and Health Psychology and Neuropsychology has established the following breakdown of activities:

a) Safety Course Certification (before starting the internship); b) Study of the deontological module; c) Internship at a university-convened facility: 150 hours of mandatory attendance.

The Board of the Master’s Degree in Psychology of the Life Cycle and Contexts has established the following breakdown of activities:

a) Safety Course Certification (before starting the internship); b) Study of the deontological module; c) Internship at a university-convened facility: 150 hours of mandatory attendance.

 

5. Internship Structure at the Host Location

The structure of the internship is defined by the University’s "Guidelines," approved by the Academic Senate, according to which:

• The internship can be conducted at a facility affiliated with the University of Florence;
• A university tutor is required, who ensures the adequacy of the internship project in relation to the educational objectives, and a tutor from the hosting organization is responsible for the adequacy and effectiveness of the interactions between the intern and the host organization.

7. Procedure for Activating an Internship

Once the student has chosen and contacted the host organization (even in the absence of offers) and reached an agreement, they must inform the internship office by email at stage(AT)psico.unifi.it, providing the name of the chosen facility and their student ID number. The Internship Office will then match the student with the host facility.

To start the internship, it is necessary to complete an online training project that involves three parties: the student, the university tutor, and the host organization. The training project, drafted by the student and agreed upon with the company tutor, must be signed by the university tutor, the legal representative, and the company tutor from the hosting organization. The completed and signed project must be submitted to the Internship Office of the School of Psychology at least 10 days before the scheduled start date of the internship. The student’s presence in the organization must be recorded in a specific attendance log.

Internships can be customized, provided the organization completes the accreditation process with the University of Florence database.

 

8. Conclusion of the Internship at the Host Location

At the end of the internship, the student, the company tutor, and the university tutor must each complete an online evaluation questionnaire. The company tutor is also responsible for filling out the final report online, which must be validated by the university tutor.

 

9. Completion of the Procedure and Awarding of CFU to the Student

The university tutor, after validating the final report and signing the internship diary/certificate, confirms the student’s suitability for the Training Internship on a specific form and sends the document to the Internship Office of the School of Psychology. The Internship Office will then send the document to the Student Office, which will record the student’s suitability for the Training Internship in the student’s academic career. This registration will grant the student 6 CFUs in their academic record.

 

10. Erasmus+ Program Students

Outgoing students participating in the Erasmus+ program can undertake the Training Internship abroad under a special agreement with a company proposed by the student and approved by the Internship Commission.

Incoming students participating in the second-level Erasmus+ program are also eligible for the internship. Incoming students must have at least a B1 level of Italian and are required to complete the activities outlined in point 4 during the semester they are participating in the Erasmus program. If requested by the home institution, the grade certification will be issued by the International Relations Delegate.

 

11. Recognition of Activities

It is possible to request the validation of Civil Service activities as part of the Training Internship by sending a request to the Internship Office via email at stage@psico.unifi.it.