1. Aim and purpose of the Practical Training program
The Department of Mechanical Engineering considers the early exposure of students to the needs and problems faced by Greek production units as a very important part of the educational process. The Department envisions creating a new generation of engineers who will gain experience in solving real problems in their field during their studies, so that they can be readily productive upon graduation. To this end, the Department has imposed the Practical Training of its students as mandatory since the academic year 1996-97.
With the Practical Training Program, the Department aims to engage all students in businesses and organizations during their studies, in order to gain professional experience, acquire knowledge of the production needs, and transfer the assessed overall experience acquired through the application and adaptation of the knowledge provided by the Department. This will facilitate the efficient professional integration of graduates in the work environment.
2. Duration of the Practical Training
Practical Training is mandatory for all students of the Department for a period of two (2) months during their studies. A prerequisite for participation in the Practical Training Program is (i) the enrollment in the 6th or higher semester of studies, and (ii) the successful examination in least fifteen (15) courses (not including the Foreign Language) of the undergraduate program of studies.
The Practical Training is not graded, but its completion is a prerequisite for graduation from the Department. It is listed in the Diploma Supplement in a special field that has been prescribed for this purpose.
The Practical Training takes place during the summer months, when there are no classes or exams. It can be carried out both within the scope of the NSRF Project, and not, always continuously over a two-month period. Only in special cases and after confirmation from the Department can the Practical Training be carried out at time periods different than the summer months. It is conducted more commonly in private and less commonly in public institutions.
3. Funding of the Practical Training
The internship is mandatory, with compensation through the “Operational Program for Human Resources Development, Education and Lifelong Learning, NSRF” or with optional compensation when carried out outside the NSRF.
4. Organizational & Administrative Support
The archive and secretarial support of the Practical Training Program is provided by the Practical Training (PT) Office of the University. The PT Office is responsible for the preparation of the PT, the placement of interns in companies, the monitoring and evaluation of the PT, the payment of compensation to students and in general for anything related to the support of the PT.
The PT Office stores records with information brochures and correspondence from businesses that accept students for internships, which students can consult before the start of their internship. It also keeps records of PT Applications, Evaluation Sheets, Completion Certificates and Valuation Reports.
The responsibility for the overall monitoring and evaluation of the PT lies with the respective Scientific Director of Practical Training, while the secretarial support is provided by the PT Office of the University of Thessaly (www.pa.uth.gr).
Contact Information
UNIVERSITY OF THESSALY
Internship Office – www.pa.uth.gr
Responsible: Lampros Arampatzoglou
Email: praktiki.mie@uth.gr
Address: Iasonos 62, Volos 38221
Tel.: +30 24210 06381/+30 2410 684512