Students get a taste of the practical working life during their internship. Conversely, internship companies gain current scientific knowledge with students. Students conduct research or help their internship company develop solutions during an internship. Our students from our four different disciplines (public administration, sociology, psychology and pedagogical sciences) talk about their internships.
Sarah Hassinini - Public Administration
Sarah Hassinini (22) did an internship at the Municipality of Rotterdam and completed her Public Administration master's degree in 2021. “It was a really great internship within a committed team with an informal atmosphere. That’s something I learned from that time: you need to enjoy your work, but the atmosphere is just as important.”
Sarah was good in economic subjects in senior general secondary education, so after her exams she opted for a higher professional education in Business Administration study programme. It wasn’t a success. Although she passed her propaedeutic year, she missed the human side. Sarah began: “It was too much about big companies, profit and commerce. I’ve not regretted switching to Health Policy & Management at EUR for one minute.”
Confirmation
Her internship at the Municipality of Rotterdam was confirmation that she wanted to stay working in care. Sarah conducted research for the Integral Support for Rotterdam Citizens project (PRIO), which focuses on integrating cooperation between various care providers in Rotterdam. Sarah: “PRIO’s objective is to make it easier for people to get the help they need if they have multiple care issues. You need good care sector cooperation for this, as well as change. And that’s what my research thesis was about. I researched how prepared care providers are for this. Luckily, the outcome of my research was positive. I really enjoyed my internship and particularly appreciated the solidarity and excellent guidance.”
Bringing people together
Sarah also continues bringing people together for good care after her internship. She is going to work as policy maker at InEen, a sector association for front-line care. “We champion the interests of front-line care providers and are the contact point for the government. I’m really looking forward to this new challenge!”
Beate Roeling - Pedagogical Sciences
Beate looks back on her internship with a sense of gratitude. She has found that her experience on Curaçao was particularly good for her self-confidence: “Before I started, I thought, what knowledge do I actually have? But now when I look back, I realise that I have simply reached an academic level. And I got a 9 out of 10 for my internship to prove it!”
Resilient children
The Able Company teaches children to cope more effectively with their emotions, identity, insecurities and relationships. The way this organisation goes about things on Curaçao fits Beate’s views on what children need: “It’s unavoidable that children will experience disappointments in their lives. How can you ensure that they are resilient in those moments and that they are able to cope better and more easily with setbacks?” Beate has seen how training sessions at The Able Company address these issues for children. In fact, during her internship, she personally developed one of the training sessions for adolescents. So there is a strong possibility that she will remain associated with the organisation as a trainer.
Outside the system
In the future, Beate wants to do something for children who fall outside the system. “I want to give them the tools that they so badly need. That they learn to go and find an adult if there’s a problem, that they learn to articulate their emotions.” In Beate’s experience, if you learn this from an early age, you’ll always be able to cope with yourself and with whatever life throws at you. Now she is back in the Netherlands, Beate wants to open her own practice that focuses on counselling on and studying family grief.
Martin Franken - Psychology
He speaks six languages, studied in France, Belgium and Germany and came to Rotterdam for the master program in Clinical Psychology. With that background, it’s not surprising that Martin Franken (28) enjoys working with colleagues from across the world.
And he was able to experience that in practice during his internship at PsyQ International in The Hague, a healthcare organisation with a focus on care for expats in the Netherlands.
All foreign nationals
Cooperating with colleagues from different countries during his internship enabled Martin to understand many different sides to the profession. “Every country and every culture has its own approach to psychotherapy, and discussing this together is really instructive. It enriches your ideas about psychology. At PsyQ International, we were also all foreign nationals in the same country: the Netherlands. That made my internship even more special.”
Most serious problems
At PsyQ International, Martin conducted interviews with people who had personal problems, such as feelings of anxiety, depression, burn-out or addiction. He enjoys the challenge of having a meaningful consultation. “It’s a fantastic profession. I can help the other person discover the cause of their problems. You need courage for that, because you’re going somewhere nobody wants to go. But once you’re there, you can really work on the problems you are facing in your life.” Martin finds that process the most amazing part of his work. “Every person has their own, unique story. That’s never boring.”
After all his travels, Martin has found his place in the Netherlands: “Dutch people are organised, they’re nice and they have a horizontal hierarchy. I like that.” Martin is now working as a psychologist and tutor in EUR's Psychology master programme.
Emmy Robles - Sociology
From relaxed island life in Aruba to busy city life in Rotterdam. As an Aruban, Emmy Robles (25) experienced that culture shock. For the sociology student, however, it was more than worth it. "Thanks to my study programme, I've grown as a student and as a professional." Having completed her internship in the hospital in Aruba and graduated with a bachelor's degree, she is now preparing for a master's.
Emmy looks back gratefully at the past 3 years: "Thanks to my study programme, I have learned to understand people. Also people who think differently than I do. And I know myself better. I am able to express my own opinion. I've become a wiser person."
Internship in Aruba
In 'her' Aruba, Emmy studied whether student nurses are aware of how their contact with patients is. "The trust I was given during my internship in the hospital was very nice. From my interviews and observations, I found that the contact between student nurses and patients could be improved, particularly with respect to interpersonal communication. When I presented my results, I noticed that not everyone was happy about them. But that's OK. Facts aren't always nice to hear. With my information, the hospital can improve the quality, that's the important thing."
"Don't let anyone break you"
After her master's degree, Emmy first wants to get work experience in the Netherlands before returning to Aruba. "I love my island. Arubans are there for each other, no matter what. With the knowledge I've acquired, I feel that things can be improved at the social level and in the field of education in Aruba. I want to contribute to that. I also want to show young people that you mustn't let your life be dominated by other people's opinions. Don't let anyone break you. Be happy with yourself and look towards the light."
More information about the Dr. Horacio E. Oduber Hospital in Aruba.
- More information
This interview previously appeared in Spark magazine. This magazine is for students, alumni and partners of ESSB and showcases the positive impact that the faculty's education and research have on society.