"We are back to figures similar to those of the non-pandemic years," explains Roberto Cabezas, director of Careers Office(Career Services) at the University. "This year's internships are almost double those of last year and approximately 10% more than before the pandemic. Companies continue to value the potential of our students very positively," she concludes. 

This summer, more than 80% of the internships have taken place or are taking place in Spain; although despite the statuscaused by COVID-19, some students have been able to travel to other countries such as Portugal, Cape Verde, Dominican Republic or France. Most of them are students from Degreeand just over 5% are students completing their internships from Master's Degree. The sectors in which students are doing the most internships this summer are: law firms and legal services (more than 12%), health and hospitals (more than 11%), average, speechand advertising(around 9%), consultancy serviceand professional services (almost 8%), teachingand culture (around 7%). 

These internships, managed by Career Services, give the students a clearer idea of what they want and what they will find in their professional future. Some of them tell us their story: learning in the field.

Isabel Nieuwenhuys, a third year student of Law and Global Law Program, did her internship at departmentarbitration at the law firm Uría Menéndez in Madrid last June. "My experience has been very positive and I recommend it to all students to guide their professional degree program", she says. The search for jurisprudence and researchwere her main tasks. In addition to that, Isabel takes with her all the support and the training plan she received from her two tutors, a junior partner and a counsel. "They threw themselves into me, both in the cases they involved me in, as well as in what the law was about and in giving me advice for the future.

How to apply the diary2030 of developmentSustainable in the classrooms of educational centres in Navarra? EducationThis is one of the main objectives of the internship thatNatalia Iriarte, a fifth year student of thedouble Degree in Pedagogy and Early Childhood Education, is doing this summer at the Fabre Foundation. Always interested in the third sector and the Educationfor the development, Natalia Iriarte is in charge of designing activities and contents for pupils in the infant and primary school cycles. "The most valuable lesson I have learnt is the importance of the educational approach in the projects carried out by the Third Sector. A perspective that requires seeking real and effective learning from student body and that these projects have a real space in the classroom. They should not only be awareness-raising activities, but also seek to ensure that student bodyacquires knowledge, skills and attitudes to form part of global citizenship".

"The experience has exceeded my expectations, in the sense of a reaffirmation of my trainingand experience taken to internship". This is how Marina Aizpún, a nursing student, sums up her time in the Emergency, ICU, Paediatrics and Hospitalisation departments during her work experience at the Clínica Universidad de Navarra. "For three years, I have been able to carry out the different techniques I have learnt both in the simulated and supervised internship", she explains. "Of the many things I have learned from the professionals I have worked with, I would highlight the demonstration that it is always possible to go further in the most human aspect of our profession", he sums up.

A dream fulfilled

"For any archaeologist, being able to go on an international excavation is an unbeatable opportunity". Gabriel Garza, studentof Degreeof History with Diploma of Archaeology and Degreeof PhilologyHispánica, did an internship at the excavation site ciuitas igaeditarnorum, in Indanha a Velha (Portugal), at partnershipwith the Universidade de Coimbra and the Universidade Nova de Lisboa.

Gabriel had to excavate a Roman wall, rebuilt in the 12th century by the Templars, and leave everything written down in the field diary for later research. "Without the knowledge acquired at classroomit would be really complicated to participate in an internship of this calibre," he says. Gabriel Garza takes with him in his backpack several experiences such as the fact of having excavated simultaneously two sites with completely different chronologies, Roman and medieval; an international excavation, a greater delicacy in distinguishing the statigraphic units and unique findings such as Visigoth ceramics. "The best way to learn any profession is through internship. No matter how much the university teaches you a method of work, if you don't put it into internship, it is of no use. On the other hand, it is very important to enrich yourself with the knowledgeof others".

A fourth-year History student with Diploma in Archaeology, Luka García has done her internship at the excavation site of Tusculum, in Italian Lazio, with the Spanish School of History and Archaeology of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC). He says that with this internship he has "fulfilled his archaeological dream of being able to excavate in the lands of ancient Rome". Like Gabriel, Luka believes that there are aspects of archaeology that can only be learned in the field. "Doing an internship is the best way to see how the world of work works, plus you can learn first-hand how professionals in their field work.

First work experience

Carmen Urbiola, a student at ISSA School of Applied Management, has been doing her internship at Volkswagen since March. "I am learning how to manage a department, how to lead a team of multiple employees and what skills are needed to be a good manager," she explains. When she was approached with this opportunity, Carmen knew she couldn't miss it. Today she is in charge of managing and coordinating events, creating designs, templates, structuring and thinking up project concepts, as well as perfecting her German, which in the space of a few weeks has been filled with the technicalities of the automotive world. "It's been an eye-opening experience, where I am lucky enough to develop my personal and technical skills and apply the content acquired during the degree programat managementApplied". 

After missing out on an internship last year due to the pandemic, Melissa Sanchís, a third year ISSA student, spent June and July working at departmentMarketing, speechand developmentat Sedgwick Iberia in Madrid. The multinational businesshas allowed him to develop his knowledge language skills and connections with colleagues from other countries. "The knowledgeis not only acquired in the classroom, but must also be put into internship", he confirms. Creating offers, brochures, presentations, corporate videos, documentation, etc., have been some of her tasks. "I have been treated as one of them from the beginning and, as time went by, they trusted me and gave me more responsibility. 

After completing her third year at ISSA, Nerea Vázquez flew to Brussels to do her internship at MAS Aparthotel EU. "Nowadays I am not sure what I want to specialise in, but I think that it is by trying out and experiencing a specific professional environment first hand that you realise if you are made for it. That's what I want to test with the specializationin Tourism Management", she says. In the meantime, Nerea spends her time at workshopkeeping the accounts at the cash desk, preparing folderwith the arrival of clients, supervising the daily control of the cleaning of the suites, preparing invoices, checking e-mails and also commercial issues such as management, advertisingand social networks. Nerea has been able to apply her knowledgelanguage skills in the daily attentionwith clients, the businessspeech and the design marketing strategies to attract new guests. "Who knows where you will end up working, but you always have to start by taking a small step and this summer 2021 has been mine".

Learning the day-to-day running of a museum

Irene Hernández, from Madrid, and Manuel Gamaza, from Santander, are graduates of the second year of the Master in Curatorial Studies at the Museo Universidad de Navarra. During their internships they have had the opportunity to participate in setting up exhibitions, working with artists and curators, as well as digitising, cataloguing and inventorying all the collections. "The experience acquired has been total", says Manuel Gamaza. "What I enjoyed most was the contactwith the artists, with other ways of communicating, thinking and reflecting". Irene Hernández adds that during her internship she has put into internshipeverything she has learnt at Master's Degree"but, above all, I have learnt how a museum works on a daily basis and acquiring all this experience has given me greater self-confidence".   

Back to Ecuador

Unai Lizaso, 24, from Pamplona, is graduatein Biology and Environmental Sciences. He had already been in Ecuador with the Environmental Landscapes programme and when he finished the degree programhe decided to return to the country to do his internship at the Universidad Tecnológica Indoamericana de Ecuador.

There, Unai designs explanatory posters, visits to nature reserves and runs environmental workshops at Education. "We work with the local inhabitants to make them aware of the importance of caring for the environment. We are also preparing environmental Educationactivities so that we can organise visits for school groups in the future," she says. internship"It is an enriching experience where you can put into practice what you have learnt at degree program".

Good preparation during the Degree

Studying plots of land to determine the viability of an installation, making calculations, designing a plant to comply with rules and regulations, writing technical reports, designing single-line diagrams and carrying out simulations using a computer programme specialised in photovoltaic installations. These are some of the functions carried out by Ernesto José Reyes, studentof Electrical Engineering at Tecnun-Escuela de Ingeniería, at businessEnerficaz, a company specialising in photovoltaic installations for self-consumption or sale to network. In addition to an initial feeling of unease, there was also a feeling of satisfaction at being prepared to work alongside professionals in the sector: "I was very afraid to start such a technical internship, in case I wasn't sufficiently well-prepared. It is true that it is a little difficult to remember all the knowledge acquired during the Degree, but I can say first hand that we left Tecnun very well prepared. The businessreally appreciated my training; I learned in a very natural and quick way", he acknowledges. 

Attention to detail and global vision

Consuelo Ródenas, a second-year ADE student, is doing her internship this summer at Bodegas Emilio Moro. "I'm learning the entire production line of the winery: the bottling process, storage, etc. They produce between 30,000 and 40,000 bottles a day, it's really crazy," she says. Consuelo highlights the attention she is receiving from business. "They are very nice. My manageris taking me around the winery so that I can have a global vision of everything and make the most of this experience. Now I'm in the sales department where we manage the orders - there are so many of them! In addition, we export a lot and for each country there is a different bottling and labelling, according to the market and the laws of each place. I am learning to take into account the small details, as even the last line on labelmatters, and to adapt the product to a global market. It is a unique experience.

A complement to what has been learned in the degree program

María Paz Martínez is a graduate of the II promotion of Bilingual Marketing with accredited specializationOficial en speechCorporativa. Since 24 June she has been doing an internship at Atresmedia advertising."My work revolves around the advertising planning team: approachload, managementof spaces, programming, monitoring and analysis of advertising campaigns, both in Atresmedia Television and Atresmedia Radio channels", she explains. "These internships are a great complement to everything I have learnt in the four years of degree program. Being a division of businesswith a very specific modelof work, its team allows me to know all the processes and all the variables that have to be taken into account for the correct awarding of television commercials and radio spots". María Paz is clear that this is an opportunity that cannot be missed. "When the opportunity to do an internship comes up, you can't hesitate to take it!