The student can collect relevant information to come to an integrated approach; The student is familiar with preparing a plan of approach (problem definition, objective, research questions, choice of research method and realistic planning); The student can independently prepare a clear planning, monitor this planning and deal appropriately with the available time; The student is familiar with looking up suitable scientific literature (i.e, articles, books, reports) through the website of the library of Hasselt University and can structure and summarize the scientific literature with correct source citation (APA-guidelines); The student is familiar with the different research methods within transportation sciences and can choose the appropriate research method(s) based on a given context, justify this choice, and then apply the research method(s) correctly; The student can, based on a given context, select and apply the most appropriate (statistical) method to analyze the collected data and can correctly interpret the results; The student can make a report that has a clear structure and discuss in it the approach and results in a clear and scientific way; The student can present in a scientifically correct way; The student can, based on the interpretation of the research results, suggest appropriate sustainable solutions; The student can, based on a given context, make recommendations that are practically relevant.

Within this course, students become acquainted with the transportation sciences domain in real-life situations. The student performs an internship of 40 working days, during which the knowledge and skills gained in the transportation sciences programme are applied to a concrete transportation problem taken from real-life. He/she will also get acquainted with new methods and techniques, used in practice.

To do this, there is a close cooperation, on location, with an organization which is active in the field of transportation sciences, or an organization which can formulate a clear problem in the field of transportation. Sectors of previous internships are: governmental bodies (federal, regional, municipal), consultancy firms, police districts, research institutes, (public transport) companies, interest groups, etc.

Students have to search for their own internship organisation (and topic). The proposal (in consultation with an internship organization) has to be submitted for approval before the deadline as communicated by the teaching team (in the year prior to the internship year).

It is also possible to do an international internship. There are some scholarship possibilities for students who meet certain conditions. Students who are interested in an international internship should inform Patricia Hellriegel (patricia.hellriegel@uhasse lt.be) of their intention by February of the year, prior to the internship year.

The internship is carried out individually.Students elaborate an internship plan of approach at the start of the internship, keep a logbook during the whole internship period and finally, write an internship report at the end. Moreover, there is an oral defense by means of a poster.