French Business Internship Program (FBIP) for Academic, Professional and Personal Growth

Candidate Selection
Work Assignments
Responsibilities
Report Guidelines
Conclusion

Candidate Selection

A UW-Madison student in any discipline may apply to the FBIP. Before being accepted for assignment abroad, he/she must submit a transcript, a résumé and a letter of intent. The latter two will be shown to potential hosts and must be written in French. Each student is then interviewed by faculty in both English and French to determine the facility he/she has with both languages. In addition, an assessment is made concerning his/her ability to work in a foreign language immersion environment and successfully complete a project for the host firm. Preference is given to students who combine fluency in French with business skills and experience.

Candidates must have sufficient financial resources to pay the program fee and their transportation, housing and living expenses. They must provide proof of insurance and complete a medical self-assessment.

Once all the parties have agreed to the placement and an internship contract (convention de stage) has been signed, the student and the FBIP’s local coordinator work out the details of arrival dates and those living arrangements that can be made in advance.

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Work Assignments

Most of the internships last six to twelve weeks, according to the needs of the host firm. Normally, the student is given a project or is assigned to a project team so that he/she gains a sense of closure on his/her assignment and leaves the host firm with a tangible contribution. Individual projects vary greatly depending on both the firm’s needs and the student’s skills. Examples of past projects include: computer assignments, translation, market surveys, studying logistics/distribution patterns, international business projects, market research, import/export study, library research, trips in the field with the sales force.

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Responsibilities

The FBIP will put the student in touch with the local coordinator who has arranged the placement at the host firm. The student will also have a contact at the firm who oversees his/her project and provides access to information and people within the firm. In addition, the co-directors will contact the firm and the student during the internship to evaluate progress and assist in resolving any difficulties.

The Host Firm is expected to make reasonable efforts to ensure that the student is afforded the opportunity to contribute to and learn from the firm. The host will identify a contact within the firm. At the end the contact person will complete a brief evaluation of the student’s attitude and performance.

The Student is required to be at the firm during normal working hours for the agreed term of the internship. While at the firm, he/she is to be available for all reasonable assignments which advance the interests of the firm. When and if it is necessary to be absent, the student must notify the contact person in advance. Upon returning to the U.S., the student must submit a written report to receive university credit for his/her internship experience.

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Report Guidelines

Because the student will receive three university credits for the internship, he/she is expected to complete a comprehensive report on the firm and his/her project, in addition to the work he/she performs abroad for the host firm. Before the student arrives in France, he/she should consider the major activities to which the firm devotes its time and resources, and he/she should anticipate the problems that the firm may face as a result of its business activity. For example:

• technical problems
• price competition
• access to markets
• market/advertising/distribution labor difficulties (if the business is labor intensive)
• capital equipment problems
• product development
• import/export difficulties
• problem solving (in consulting, for example)

Interviews will be another useful tool in collecting information for the report and in developing a library of materials to be used by future students and administrators of the program. Here are some sample open-ended interview questions:

• How would you (the host firm) wish to be described?
• What have been your most successful recent accomplishments?
• Who are your clients? If names are confidential, ask for a description.
• Into which markets do you wish to move?
• On what type of problems do you spend the most time?
• What is your educational background? Your professional experience?
• What do you see as the major strength(s) of your organization?
• What is it that you consider your focus of competition?

The report consists of two main sections. The first describes the firm in general: its markets, competition, size, processes, products, organization and other non-sensitive information. The second portion deals with the student’s project; here the student may be dealing with proprietary or confidential information, and he/she should assure the firm that the report will remain confidential.

The report should include, but not be limited to, the following information about the host organization:

1. Administrative Structure:Draw a flow chart showing titles, names, responsibilities and number of personnel within each unit.

2. History and Current Description: When was the firm established? By whom? Is it publicly or privately funded? What were its first products? How has the firm evolved over time? Generally describe the firm’s location, facilities and markets/clients. What is total number employed? Is it increasing or decreasing?

3. Activities, Products, Services: Does the firm produce a product or a service? What activities go into producing it? Be specific enough that the reader will understand the scope and nature of the firm’s activities and the skills and training of its personnel. Describe any recent or contemplated changes in the system and their motivation.

4. Markets, Clients, Competitors: Who are the consumers or users of the firm’s products—individuals, governments, other companies? What makes the product(s) attractive to the markets? Do customers make one purchase or repeat purchases? Is the firm relationship or transaction oriented? Describe the market, including competition and substitute products. What markets exist that are not being served and that might be?

5. Current Projects and Plans: Is the firm developing new products or services? How does it plan to grow? Is it expanding facilities or staff? Is it replacing equipment? With new technology or with the same technology?

6. Channels of Distribution: For tangible products, describe how the product reaches the end consumer? Who are the firm’s major clients? Are they a necessary part of the channel? What purpose do they serve? If the product is branded, where in the channel and by whom? Is this an advantage?

7. Sales Data: If possible, review by product line. Which products/markets are growing and why? Where does the firm concentrate its efforts? What are its most and least successful products? Categorize data by product line and country. Discuss trends with the most senior people available.

8. Other Considerations: What are the major problems of the firm? Where does it get help? What causes the problems? Are they always the same, or have they changed? What is the business culture of the firm? How does it compare to U.S. firms? Does the firm feel it needs government aid, assistance or protection? What other questions are important to the firm?

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Conclusion

We feel that no other educational program can provide the student with such a variety of important experiences as does the FBIP. While students are selected for the program based on their fluency in French and their potential to add value to the host firm and the program, the program’s success rests finally on the initiative, attitude and creativity of its students which in turn generate continued interest and goodwill on the part of the host firms. In the best business tradition, it is a win-win situation.