The internship has four functions

(1) In its orientation function, the internship gives students the opportunity to get to know possible fields of activity and employers in an exemplary manner; in this way it contributes to the individual clarification of professional interests and perspectives.

(2) In addition, the internship has a qualification function. Students can apply and deepen the knowledge they have acquired at university; they are given the opportunity to become aware of their own strengths and weaknesses and to align their further studies with the skills relevant to the practical field.

(3) In this way, the internship also acts as a bridge. After completing their studies, potential employers can see from the internships completed whether the students are prepared for the general requirements of the working world and are of interest to the company in terms of the knowledge they have acquired during their internship. In individual cases, the internship also provides a platform for later career entry, especially through the contacts made with potential employers during the internship.

(4) As a mediator of social science knowledge and professional practice, the internship also has a reflective function. Students should not merely fill a specific position within the organization, but should reflect on this organizational context and their own role within this context from a social science perspective. In this way, the internship contributes to the professionalization of the course and enables a reflective approach to the theories and methods learned during the course.