Internships

From Academic Knowledge to Professional Experience

Internships are an essential part of the Computer Science learning experience at the University of Naples “Parthenope”.

They give students the opportunity to apply the knowledge acquired during their studies to real projects, become familiar with professional working environments, and develop the technical and interpersonal skills required by the rapidly evolving ICT sector.

The internship is a compulsory educational activity for both the Bachelor’s Degree Programme in Computer Scienceand the Master’s Degree Programme in Applied Computer Science — Machine Learning and Big Data. It may be completed at a private company, public organisation, research institution, or eligible University research laboratory.

Learning Through Real-World Challenges

An internship is more than a period of workplace observation. Students participate in a structured project agreed upon with the host organisation and supervised by academic and professional tutors.

Depending on the selected organisation and project, internship activities may involve areas such as:

• software analysis, design, and development;
• web and mobile applications;
• artificial intelligence and machine learning;
• big-data processing and analytics;
• databases and information systems;
• cloud and distributed computing;
• cybersecurity and computer networks;
• computer vision and multimedia processing;
• high-performance and scientific computing;
• geospatial and environmental applications;
• bioinformatics and computational science;
• Internet of Things and sensor systems.

Through these activities, students encounter authentic technical requirements, deadlines, collaborative practices, and quality standards.

Developing Professional Skills

Internships help students consolidate their technical preparation while developing important transferable abilities, including:

• working effectively as part of a team;
• communicating with technical and non-technical colleagues;
• analysing requirements and defining achievable objectives;
• selecting suitable methods, technologies, and development tools;
• documenting software, data, and research activities;
• managing time, responsibilities, and project milestones;
• evaluating results critically;
• presenting completed work clearly and professionally.

The Bachelor’s programme describes the internship as a guided introduction to the world of work, designed to make students aware of the activities and responsibilities associated with professional roles and to improve teamwork and professional communication skills.

Internship Opportunities

Students can undertake their internship at organisations operating in a broad range of technological and application-oriented sectors.

The programme has historically collaborated with software companies, consulting firms, public authorities, environmental organisations, research centres, publishers, digital-media companies, and institutions working in fields including information systems, mobile development, databases, telecommunications, meteorology, geographic information, healthcare, and public administration.

Students should consult the current official list of partner organisations before submitting an application, as agreements and available opportunities may change over time.

A student may indicate:

1. the preferred application area;
2. a preferred host organisation, when already identified;
3. any relevant requests concerning the starting period, academic tutor, or proposed project.

The Internship Committee evaluates each request and formally assigns the host organisation, academic tutor, project topic, and starting date.

University Research Internships

Eligible students may also request an internship within a Computer Science research laboratory of the Department of Science and Technology.

Research internships are particularly suitable for students who wish to explore advanced topics that may not be available within a conventional company placement. Potential areas include:

• computational intelligence and smart systems;
• machine learning and artificial intelligence;
• computer vision and pattern recognition;
• image and signal processing;
• biometrics and cybersecurity;
• virtual and augmented reality;
• sensor networks;
• numerical modelling;
• parallel and high-performance computing;
• scientific workflows and application-driven research.

Internal internships are assigned following an evaluation by the Internship Committee and are supervised by a faculty member or research-laboratory coordinator.

Connecting the Internship and the Final Project

Whenever possible, Bachelor’s students are encouraged to align the subject of their internship with their final degree project.

This continuity enables students to deepen the work carried out during the placement, examine its scientific or technological foundations, and transform a practical professional experience into a structured academic contribution.

For Master’s students, the internship can similarly become an opportunity to connect advanced coursework in machine learning, big data, distributed computing, or applied research with the preparation of the Master’s thesis.

How to Start an Internship

The general process includes the following steps:

1. Review the internship regulations and current programme requirements.
2. Consult the available host organisations and research opportunities.
3. Identify a preferred technical or application area.
4. Download and complete the required application forms.
5. Submit the request to the Internship Committee through the procedure indicated by the Degree Programme.
6. Wait for the formal assignment of the project, host organisation, academic tutor, and starting date.
7. Complete all required administrative documentation before beginning the activities.

Students must not begin an internship informally. The placement should start only after its formal approval and the completion of the necessary documentation.

Eligibility

Bachelor’s students must satisfy the academic requirements established by the applicable Internship Regulations and Degree Programme Regulations before submitting their request.

The published programme information has required Bachelor’s students to have acquired a substantial number of credits and completed specific core examinations before starting the internship. These requirements are intended to ensure that students possess the programming, algorithmic, database, and systems knowledge needed to work productively and safely on a professional project.

Requirements for Bachelor’s and Master’s students may be revised between academic years. Students should therefore consult the regulations applying to their own cohort.

During the Internship

Internship activities are carried out according to an approved training project agreed upon by:

• the student;
• the academic tutor;
• the supervisor appointed by the host organisation.

Students are expected to participate responsibly in the activities of the organisation and comply with the agreed schedule, workplace rules, confidentiality obligations, data-protection requirements, and professional standards.

A record of the completed activities and hours must be maintained throughout the placement.

Completing and Recognising the Internship

At the end of the internship, students are normally required to prepare and submit:

• the completed internship logbook or attendance record;
• a final report describing the objectives, activities, methods, technologies, and results;
• the required signatures or assessments from the host and academic tutors;
• any additional forms required by the Degree Programme or Teaching Office.

The final report should demonstrate not only what was produced, but also what the student learned, which challenges were encountered, and how the experience contributed to their professional and academic development.

Recognition of Relevant Professional Experience

Students who have already carried out substantial professional activities in an appropriate computer-science role may be able to request recognition of that experience in place of all or part of the internship.

Such recognition is not automatic. It requires a formal application supported by official documentation from the employer and is evaluated in accordance with the current Degree Programme regulations.

International Internships

Students are encouraged to consider internship opportunities abroad, including placements supported by University mobility programmes.

An international internship can add further value by helping students:

• work in multicultural teams;
• improve professional English or another foreign language;
• understand international organisational practices;
• build a wider professional network;
• approach technical problems from different cultural and methodological perspectives.

Students interested in an international placement should consult the University offices responsible for mobility, traineeships, and international relations well before the proposed starting date.

A Bridge to Employment and Research

For many students, the internship is the first sustained encounter with professional Computer Science outside the classroom.

It can help clarify career interests, introduce students to potential employers, generate ideas for a thesis or research project, and create relationships that continue after graduation.

Whether completed in a company, public institution, research organisation, or University laboratory, the internship represents a bridge between academic preparation and professional responsibility—a setting in which knowledge becomes practice and practice generates new knowledge.

Useful Resources

Before applying, students should consult the current official pages concerning:

• how to start an internship;
• the Internship Regulations;
• partner organisations;
• application forms and templates;
• eligibility requirements;
• internal research-laboratory opportunities;
• recognition of previous professional experience;
• the required final documentation.

Procedures, contacts, forms, credit requirements, and partner organisations may change. The official Degree Programme pages, the current regulations, and the Teaching Office should always be treated as the authoritative sources.