MC Internship Policy

Purpose

The Purpose of this policy is to establish a clear framework that will guide and give direction to the management of all volunteers and internship within the Martin Chautari (MC).

Organization

Background Objectives of Volunteers/Internship
The objectives of Volunteers/Internship program are-

  • To provide an opportunity for interns to use the workspace as active learning environment and gain practical experience.
  • To provide an opportunity for new entrants with a view to acquire skills that will make them employable

Conditions of MC internships:

  • The duration of MC volunteerism /internships is between a minimum of 4 months to a maximum of 6 months. Exceptionally, volunteerism /internships may be extended up to 8 months to respond to special academic requirements or particular needs of the receiving Programme.
  • MC volunteerism /internships are not paid. Travel costs and living accommodations are the responsibility of the volunteers/interns or their sponsoring institution.
  • Volunteers/Interns do not have the status of MC staff members and shall not represent the Organization in any official capacity.
  • Interns should inform two weeks in advance before the end of their internship period for certificate or reference of internship through the respective Program Coordinator.

Key areas of work
The areas of work in which we particularly welcome volunteers/interns are:

  • Library
  • Media Research
  • Education Research
  • General office duties

Selection of Interns

  • Volunteers/interns are selected on the basis of skills, experience, interests, the MC’s needs and the person’s availability for a particular project.
  • Expressions of interest are welcome. They should be addressed to the Chairperson/Office Manager of MC, who will be pleased to give informal advice.
  • Applications for placement should contain a C.V. and a cover letter with details of the time frame that you would be available, including the number of days per week, and any preferences for the area you would like to work in.
  • Applications are then forwarded to the appropriate staff and are vetted through a selection process. Wherever possible, an interview will be conducted with the prospective volunteer/intern in person or over the phone.

Supervision
Volunteers/interns have to work under the supervision of respective coordinators Viz in Library under Library Coordinator, in Media under Media Program Coordinator. The respective program coordinators will be responsible for monitoring the volunteer’s/intern’s work, giving feedback and discussing progress.
When a volunteer/intern is accepted and assigned to a staff member, they need to inform the Office Manager when they will be working, for how long and at which work area. The Office Manager will keep a log of these details so that there is a central record of all volunteers/interns. At the end of the volunteer’s/intern’s time at the MC, the respective project coordinator will compile a brief work report outlining the time frame, tasks and any special projects that the volunteer/intern worked on.

Equal opportunities
The MC has a policy of equal opportunities. It is committed to ensuring that the recruitment and treatment of its volunteers and interns are carried out without prejudice regarding sex, marital status, race, nationality, ethnic origin, age, class, sexual orientation, colour, disability or any other grounds which cannot be justified, thus making opportunities as accessible as possible. Volunteers/interns involved in contact with the general public must have an awareness of the above issues.

Relationship between volunteers/interns and paid staff
Volunteers and interns complement the paid workforce but are not a substitute for employees. The MC does not replace paid staff with volunteers/interns. The presence of volunteers/interns should not undermine the working conditions of employees. The MC intends that relations between paid staff and volunteers/interns will be characterised by mutual trust and clear definition of their respective roles.

Expenses
The MC will pay volunteers’ and interns’ tiffin (khaja) expenses managed within Kitchen of MC. Besides, MC will reimburse the expenses incurred during MC official work assigned by respective Program Coordinator.

Confidentiality
The MC regards volunteers’ and interns’ personal data as confidential. Volunteers/interns are expected to treat any information relating to the MC, its membership and operations, to which they may have access both during and after the placement period, as confidential. Volunteers/interns must not download copy or transmit to third parties the work of others or MC staffs without permission, as this may infringe copyright and may terminate the internship immediately.

Disputes and complaints
We hope and intend that all periods of volunteering and internship will be happy and rewarding to all parties, occasionally, however, things go wrong. Any problems that may arise on either side should be resolved through informal discussion. If the issues prove to be irreconcilable, either side has the option to terminate the arrangement with immediate effect.