Global Internship Graduate Certificate (GIGC) aims to equip you with the knowledge, understanding and practical experience necessary to enhance your employability and to develop a greater understanding of different cultures in the business world by providing you with an opportunity to live and work in an emerging BRIC economy.  It is aimed at graduates looking to launch their career, seeking ways to further develop their career path or gain experience in a new multi-cultural business climate and culture.

The modules within the GIGCI are designed to help you to: 

• Make sense of international working cultures and practices and your role within the world of work.
• Be able to undertake career planning to manage your career and to participate successfully in graduate recruitment processes.
• Undertake a meaningful period of work experience in a relevant field, within a Indian or international company, and undertake an original piece of work (project) which is of benefit to both you and the placement provider.
• Develop and use skills, knowledge and experience in a practical setting.

The programme consists of two credit-bearing modules: 

Module 1: Preparation and Planning (20 credits):
This module, commencing in January, is an intensive course taken prior to the internship. This module aims to enhance your self-awareness, career management skills and understanding of UK and international working cultures and thus prepare you for your internship. You will participate in highly interactive learning sessions where you will explore topics such as, team working, commercial awareness, networking and presentation skills. 

Module 2: Internship and Development (40 credits):
This module combines the internship placement with further developmental learning which will help equip you with all the career planning skills you need to search for your next job or opportunity and to manage your career into the future. 

Internship Placement:
Prior to the beginning of the programme, students will be carefully matched to an internship opportunity which relates to their degree and/or compliments their career aspirations. During their internship, students will undertake a project which is beneficial to their placement host and which also helps them to develop or make full use of their skills, knowledge and experience. Training allowances for each month of the placement are attached to all internships. This will cover the cost of accommodation in India or China and travel cost to your place of work.

Internship placements will commence at the end of January and last for up to 6 months. Throughout their internship, students will be given appropriate support from workplace supervisors and university tutors. 

Module content:
The internship experience will be enhanced by continual learning delivered by a mix of online distance learning and 'call-back' Topics covered will include creating a winning CV, succeeding at interviews and making a professional impact. 

Methods of Teaching and Assessment:
Throughout the programme learning and teaching will be based around intensive, face-to-face highly interactive and participatory lectures, seminars and tutorials in module 1 and on-line learning and Skype sessions with tutors in module 2. Additionally, students will use MyDundee, the University's Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) to enhance and extend their learning.  Assessment is by continual assessment, there are no exams for this programme.

Module 1 Preparation & Planning

Module 1 is a full time module which will largely take the form of interactive seminars and workshops. Assessment will be via:

• Online skills assessment (Dundee Graduate Skills Award)
• Group oral presentations
• Written report on internship sector

Module 2 Internship Placement

This module will be delivered by a mix of distance learning and skype session with tutors.

Assessment will be via:

• • Reflective written account
• • Placement appraisal (conducted by Tutor with student and supervisor)
• • Job study report
• • Internship placement report
• • Individual oral presentation (delivered in September at end of placement)

The course is continually assessed through written and practical coursework. There are no exams.

Who is eligible to apply for the UKIERI Global Internship Graduate Certificate? 

• It is open to applicants who already have, or expect to have a minimum of an Ordinary Degree.
• Applicant must be eligible for an Indian Entry visa or a Chinese F2 visa.
• If your first language isn’t English, then you need to demonstrate you have a good command of the English Language, with an IELTS score of 6.5 and above.

Applications should be made through UKPASS. 

You will be applying to a pathway on the Scottish Internship Graduate Certificate (SIGC) and as part of the application form you will be asked to select where you wish to take your internship (global or Scotland). Please indicate which country you wish to do your placement in (India or China).  

Please note the with the application form, you MUST upload or send under a separate cover the following:

• An up-to-date CV, including a CV aim, indicating the sector / internship area you are interested in.
• A copy of certificates for all Higher Education.

Number of Places on the course: 10- 20.

As the employment market becomes ever more competitive, internships provide a vital route to graduate recruitment. GIGC suits recent graduates looking to launch their global career.

Past participants in the Scottish and Global internship programme have benefited from a real advantage in the UK graduate recruitment market by gaining valuable hands on experience within their sector. Many of our graduates have found paid positions with their internship organisations. Others have gone on to prestigious graduate recruitment schemes or found graduate work locally. Some have also chosen to study further or have pursued further internship experience.

The exact nature of career opportunities will be dependent on previous qualifications, experience and career aspirations of individual students. However, it is expected that GIGC will significantly boost employability and career prospects in a variety of sectors including multi-national and overseas companies.

Fees cover course fees, accommodation in Dundee, return flight to India or China, Visa and insurance.

 Students will have to pay for their own living expenses while in Dundee and abroad (e.g food, socialising travel out with work, sight-seeing etc)

All placements attract a training allowance for each month of the placement. This will be used to pay for accommodation and commuting costs to place of work in India or China.

Please contact gigc-i@dundee.ac.uk for more information.

"My experience on this programme so far has been fantastic. Not only has it provided me with valuable international work experience in one of the world’s fastest growing economies, but it has allowed me to gain a real insight into India’s wonderfully diverse and eclectic culture. My time here has taken me from the corporate hub of Mumbai, to the chaotic heart of Old Delhi, the crisp air of the Himalayas and back down to the beaches of Goa. The organisations associated with the scheme have provided excellent support- sorting everything from healthcare & accommodation to weekend cricket matches and nights out. To top it off, I have been offered a job with my company on return to London. A golden opportunity that truly can’t be missed."

“This programme has allowed me to gain skills and experience that are most wanted by potential employers, while enabling me to explore a beautiful and dynamic country at the same time.”

“The opportunity to live and work in Delhi has given me an unparalleled insight into one of the most colourful and vibrant cultures that this world has to offer. The ability to engage all your senses from the taste of a spicy masala dosai; feeling the excitement of driving in a rickshaw through the streets of Delhi to enjoying the everlasting Indian summer is what drives me. Moreover, coupled with the chance to gain invaluable skills through my internship reinforces my desire to be here, learn more and hopefully transfer these in a highly competitive labour market in the UK. The programme has been highly supportive in responding to any of my needs and queries and it has truly made me feel secure to really get the most out of the scheme. Despite only being at the beginning of my journey, the programme looks set to resonate in both professional and personal life for many years to come.”

One of our students is blogging about his time in India. Please find out more at http://aninternabroad.blogspot.co.uk/

Lynsay Pickering

GIGC-I Co-ordinator

Email address: gigc-i@dundee.ac.uk