Internships: Yes We Can!
2011 CACEE National ConferenceNiagara Falls, OntarioJune 2011Karly Pinch & Karen Benzinger
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Session Outline
Background What is an Internship? Our Internships
Overview and Program Goals Characteristics (Similarities & Differences)
Support of Student Learning Assessment & Evaluation Benefits & Challenges Co-Existence with Other Forms of
Experiential Learning Questions & Answers
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Background: UBC
Karly Pinch, UBC Arts Internship Program Coordinator
UBC Career Services Career skills building workshops, advising, online
resources, job posting On-campus work program Career fairs Employer info session Arts Internship Program
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Background: Windsor
Karen Benzinger, University of Windsor Director, Centre for Career Education
Career Services at UWindsor CCE, Business and Law
Centre for Career Education Workshops, events, on-line resources, job postings,
advising Co-op (Engineering, Business, Kinesiology, Physics,
Computer Science) Practicum Support Volunteer Internship Program
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What is an Internship?
Lack of consistency in use of the term Can be
Paid or unpaid Full or part time One semester or multiple semesters in length For credit or not Completed in any industry sector Done concurrently with studies or in a single block
placement
Resource: Typology of Work-Integrated Learning in Ontario’s Postsecondary Sector Included in a new HEQCO report available at:
http://www.heqco.ca
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What is an Internship?
Usually involves: Student completing meaningful work in an
organization Skill development and career development
for the intern Performance assessment of the intern by the
supervisor Assessment of related activities by institution
Implication: Wide array of program models are possible
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Our Internships: Basic Comparison
Arts Internship Program (UBC)
VIP (WINDSOR)
Faculty of Arts Undergraduate Students
All Undergraduate Students
Unpaid Unpaid
8-12 hrs/week, at least 4 months 40 hours over 1 semester
Non profit and community focused organizations
Non profit and publicly funded agencies
Certificate from Dean of Arts office
Transcript Recognition
Runs each Summer & Winter Runs each Summer, Fall & Winter
Launched in Fall 2009 Operating for close to 20 years
250 Interns to date 350 interns/year
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Arts Internship: Program Goals
Enrich Arts student’s educational experience by enabling them to take part in internship opportunities that will expand and clarify their career goals
Improve the preparedness of Arts students for fulfilling careers and increase their ability to work with and for their community
Expose Arts students to learning opportunities that fall outside of the typical “jobs” available for undergraduate Arts students
Enable Arts students to develop their professional skills through real-world application of their knowledge combined with support and feedback from supervisors
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VIP: Program Goals
To provide students with access to experiences within the community.
To develop professional employment readiness skills in students such (accountability, communication etc.)
To help students develop a network of contacts in the community.
To assist students in the identification or clarification of career interests and expectations.
To develop an appreciation for the value of volunteerism among students.
To teach students how to learn from a variety of experiences.
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Our Internships: General Comparison of Learning Outcomes
Arts Internship Program (UBC) AIP (UBC)
VIP (Windsor)
-Discover/confirm personal preferences re: careers
* *
-Indentify employability skills developed through VIP-Identify key strengths/skills-Demonstrate professionalism in the workplace
**
*
-Describe importance of community involvement
*
-Identify connections between internship & experience as a UBC Arts student
*
-Compose industry specific resume & cover letter-Develop skills & tools to assist with future job searches-Deliver a professional presentation
**
*
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Our Internships: Comparison of Tools Supporting Student Learning
Arts Internship Program (UBC)
VIP (Windsor)
Orientation Session Orientation Session
Code of Conduct agreement Reflective Workbook
Learning Agreement Mid Placement Round Table
Mid-placement check in by Coordinator
Resume/Cover Letter Assignment
Completed learning agreement and reflection piece
Marketing Your Internship Workshop
Final career skills and wrap up session
Performance Evaluation
Ongoing marketing opportunities Final Presentation
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Sample Evidence of Student Learning: Windsor
40% increase in portion of sample group that self reported their intention to continue actively volunteering from those that had self-reported volunteering in the 12 months prior to their participation in VIP
89% of students were able to articulate a satisfactory or better answer to a behavioural interview question using the STAR formula and an example from their VIP placement
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Student Comments: Windsor “My VIP Experience proved to me that this is
my calling in life and that has motivated me to work even harder to achieve my goal to be a social worker”
“The VIP Program is a great career-building experience which allowed me to give back to the community and to network with business professionals”
“The results of [VIP Employer Evaluation] have motivated me to continue volunteering with this organization and others...”
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Student Testimonials: UBC
“I found it very valuable to gain experience in a non-profit organization. I was introduced to some of the struggles that these groups go through regarding funding and the economic environment. I also learned a great deal about the environmental initiatives that exist in Vancouver”
“I was able to apply skills I have honed in university to tasks that I found meaningful and relevant to others as well as myself”
“I gained practical hands-on experience doing a variety of tasks in an office environment. My experience here has helped me get a related paid job for the school year.”
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Assessment & Evaluation (UBC) Gather evaluation information from
students at multiple points in the internship to reflect on the program support
Students assess their own learning through the Learning Agreement
Employers are evaluated annually to reflect on the program support
Employers and students conduct feedback assessments at the end of their terms with each other
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Assessment & Evaluation (UBC)
Students evaluate program based on: Relevance of internship to long-term
goals Quality of support from AIP office Learning gained during the internship Effect of internship on future educational
and career plans Confidence in future employability
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Assessment & Evaluation (Windsor)
Windsor uses framework based on inputs, processes & outcomes
Gathers data from students & employers about Costs (inputs) Usage & satisfaction (processes) Learning (learning outcomes) Confidence (personal attribute outcomes) Likelihood to continue volunteering (impact
outcomes)
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Assessment & Evaluation: ToolsArts Internship Program (UBC)
VIP Program (Windsor)
Orientation evaluation Orientation Survey
Site visits to interns and employers mid-way through term
Rubrics (Resume, Cover Letter, Presentation)
End of term evaluation (students)
Past Student Participant Survey
Yearly employer evaluation and survey
Past Employer Follow Up Survey
Ongoing individual conversations with students as needed
Reflection Workbook Evaluation Guide
MS Excel tracking sheets MS Excel Tracking Sheets
Reporting Templates
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Benefits to Students
Experience Career exploration Skill development Networking Learning Confidence
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Benefits to the Institution
Increased student engagement Strengthened ties to the community Positive student feedback
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Benefits to the Community
Increased exposure to the student body
Strengthened ties to the institution Short term assistance for low/no cost Connection to students with
potential to become long term volunteers or employees
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Challenges
New Program: Arts Internship Program (UBC)
Established Program -VIP (Windsor)
New program, less awareness of the opportunities available among students
Certain areas of student interest are hard to develop positions for (accounting, engineering, etc.)
Low number of applications for some positions
A lot of variety in placements (area of interest, level of challenge, location, additional screening, etc.) to manage
Students who drop out or are terminated because of low incentive to finish the program or do an excellent job
While there is ‘carrot’, there is no ‘stick’ (no possibility of failing since it is not a course)
Difficulty for low-income students to do unpaid internships
Students aren’t covered under MTCU provided insurance like they are in course-based unpaid internships
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Co-existence With Other EL
Many different ways of doing this Consider:
Different structure from other programs (# hours, employer sector)
Targeting the program to students in programs without other EL programs
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Co-existence With Other EL: UBC
Arts Internship Program
Arts Co-op AMS Internship Program
Only for Arts undergraduate students
Undergrad Arts students apply in 2nd or 3rd year
Open to all undergraduate students
Many positions, fewer student applications, high chance of securing internship
Competitive positions, especially for 1st term students
More positions than students
Interns are selected by employers
Students are selected by employers
Interns are matched by the program
Can be done in conjunction with classes/ part-time work
Full-time paid work for 1-2 terms at a time
Can be done in conjunction with classes/ part-time work
Allows student to complete degree on time
Extends degree by 1 year
Allows student to complete degree on time
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Co-existence With Other EL: WindsorCo-op VIP Program
Available in Engineering, Business, Kinesiology, Computer Science and Physics
Open to all students, but targets areas that do not offer Co-op (about 50% are Arts & Social Science students)
Offers full-time paid opportunities (students do not take classes during a co-op term)
Positions are unpaid and part-time (students complete VIP in addition to regular course load)
Open to any employer Open only to non-profit and publicly funded organizations
Accepts positions from all over the Canada and some international
Accepts only positions that are a commutable distance from campus
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Exercise
What are the main challenges to starting an internship program at your institution?
What might be the main challenges once you have a program running?
How can we address these challenges?
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