Book industry (trade and publishing) internship

Teacher(s)

Van Hemelryck Tania (coordinator);

Language

French

Prerequisites

Students may only include the work placement in their PAE (annual student programme) if they have taken (in block 1 in the 1st or 2nd four-month period) or are taking (in block 2 in the 1st four-month period; in this case, the work placement must be taken in the 2nd four-month period) the compulsory specialised courses, namely LCLIB2000, LCLIB2001, LCLIB2002 and LCLIB2003.

Main themes

The professional training involves 240 hrs work. The training in publishing must take place at a location where printed works are produced, whether that is a traditional publishing house (literature, graphic novels, university, etc.), a magazine publisher or an institution which publishes material, etc.. It must demonstrate the course theory relating to the role of publishers: implementing the concepts learned during the course, providing opportunities for the practical expression of specialised vocabulary. The book trade training involves immersion which is as complete as possible within an organisation whose activities combine culture and commerce and therefore making profit in the service of creative works. The intention is to confront the reality of the key elements in book shop life such as they are set out in the course, and which are largely learned about in the field.

Learning outcomes

At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to :

The objectives of the training in publishing are to understand the different stages involved in making a book (as they relate to the host organisation), to become aware of the different problems affecting those involved in publishing (from the point of view of the authors, publishers, marketing professionals, printers) and their impact upon the print production period, but also to acquire an initial professional experience. The objectives of the book trade training consist in trialling the different skills necessary in order to carry out the role of a bookseller: knowledge of the collections, circulation and distribution channels, logistical and bibliographical tools used by booksellers, their role as a cultural agent through sales events, relationships with clients and sales techniques. At the same time, the aim is for the trainee to understand the bookseller's specific project, which is individual in every case.

Content

Students are welcomed into publishing houses/book shops in order to complete activities which are related to that institution's aims and contractually fixed in the training agreement which governs relationships between the parties (UCL-Business), as well as their respective rights and obligations in the context of organising the training. 

Evaluation methods

1. At the end of the placement, the student must write a report describing the placement experience, the knowledge and skills acquired and presenting a critical view of the experience (presentation of the company, critical summary of the trainee's experience + appendices). The report is defended orally before a jury comprising the academic supervisor of the work placement and the lecturers teaching a course in the subject area.) The report must be submitted no later than the first day of the session in which the student has registered to defend the placement. Registration for session N assumes that the placement has been completed in time for the report and assessment to be sent no later than the first day of the session..     
   
2. The business (publishing house/book shop) must complete an evaluation table relating to the service provided by the student-trainee.
   

The report will be assessed as follows:
1) written text and oral defence: 95 %
2) supervisor's report : 5 %
Rules on plagiarism and the use of AI 
Throughout the placement report, the student must demonstrate a perfect command of the rules of bibliographic referencing; at the risk of being suspected of plagiarism, he/she must remember to  

• NOT copy a text without inverted commas and/or without mentioning the source; 
• NOT reproduce a graph, data, illustration, etc. without mentioning the source; 
• NOT reformulate or summarise an author's original idea without mentioning the source; 
• DO NOT translate, in whole or in part, a source without referencing it; 
• DO NOT use someone else's work by presenting it as your own (even if the author of the work has given his or her agreement); 
• DO NOT buy a work. 

See https://uclouvain.be/fr/etudier/uss/lutter-contre-le-plagiat.html 
This definition completes the definition given in art. 107 §2 of the RGEE and constitutes a special provision within the meaning of §3 of the same article. 
Any student who fails to comply with the scientific referencing standards set out above is liable, in the event of irregularity or plagiarism established by the jury, to academic sanctions as detailed in the RGEE (section 7). 
If generative artificial intelligence (AI) is used, it must be used responsibly and in accordance with the practices of academic and scientific integrity. As scientific integrity requires that sources be cited, the use of AI must always be reported.  

Other information

The placement agreement, duly completed (placement dates + precise timetable [minimum of one day]), together with the risk analysis, must be sent to the person in charge of the placement at the university no later than 1 calendar month before the start of the placement.
Submission of the agreement and signature/acceptance of the agreement by the placement do not constitute validation.
The placement cannot begin until the academic responsible has given his/her agreement (by signing the agreement).
The work placement must be carried out in the academic year in which it is included in the student's annual programme.
Under no circumstances may it be carried out during the months of July and August preceding the academic year in which the student registers for the EAP.

Faculty or entity

> FIAL