What is an Internship?
An internship is any carefully monitored work or service experience in which a student has intentional learning goals and reflects actively on what he/she is learning throughout the experience. An internship provides a chance for students to apply learning and to gain valuable real-world experience. For a business, an internship allows for involvement and input in the educational process of a future workforce, which can then have long-term impact on the business community.
Internship Framework
Internships are a minimum of 135 hours and up to 240 hours and are typically spread over a 15-week period. Internships can be paid or unpaid, depending on the company and what is required of the student for the position, and they are connected to an educational program with academic credit.
Benefits for Employers
- An inexpensive recruiting tool.
- An opportunity to evaluate prospective employees while they work.
- A source of current technology and ideas that can increase an organization’s intellectual capital.
- A management opportunity for mid-level staff.