Host Interns

The involvement of private-sector companies, NGO’s, and public-sector organizations plays an important role in the experiential education of U.S. students studying abroad.  GAV provides multiple opportunities for organizations to interact with future young professionals, either individually or as a group, for a brief meeting or a longer-term individual or group internship:

Host an Intern or Project Team

Why do students intern?

Real-world work experience is a vital part of a student’s university education. An internship gives students the opportunity to not only apply the knowledge that they have learned in the classroom, but also to develop other essential professional skills in areas such as written and oral communication, networking, cross-cultural competency, and working in teams.

An internship is also a valuable opportunity for a student to honestly assess their chosen career field to ensure that is the path they want to take post graduation. Some students are more certain than others on their path, and for them, an internship is a chance to narrow their focus in their chosen field. 

In either case, the likelihood of a student gaining employment immediately after graduation is markedly higher if that student has completed an internship, especially within their career field. The experience makes them a more appealing candidate to companies who understand that this student can perform in a real-world setting, not just in an academic context, and that they come to the job with valuable professional skills, ready to work.

Why should my organization host an intern or project team?

Interns can be a valuable asset to a company or organization of any size, from a global multi-national corporation; to a single office, local company or non-profit. They are unpaid, so the only resource commitments are time, equipment (usually a computer), and a small workspace.  The key to success is finding a suitable match for both parties such that the particular skills and expectations of the intern, or group of interns, can be best leveraged to yield the highest performance for the host organization.  

Before committing to host an intern, the sponsoring organization must make sure there are enough tasks and projects to keep the intern gainfully occupied during the internship, which usually runs for about eight weeks of full-time work. Students who complete internships are typically quite highly motivated.  Therefore it is safe to assume that most interns are keen to learn as much as possible through their internship, and that it is very important to them that they add value to the team, and to their co-workers’ projects.  Interns are usually expected to attend staff and team meetings, may process or analyze data, proofread text, write summary reports, prepare presentations, and perform many other relevant and useful tasks for the organization.

A great way to give interns a tangible “deliverable” is to assign them an ongoing project that continues through the length of their internship, and have them give a detailed, professional presentation to their department at the end, including a written report. This provides closure to the internship for the student and affords a sense of accomplishment.

For more substantive projects that require a varied skillset beyond that of one student, organizations may request to host a project team, consisting of a cluster of 3-4 students in similar or complementary courses of study.  (For example, students in technical writing, marketing, and graphic design may work on an update to the organization’s website.)  Like individual interns, project teams are expected to work full-time, but often for a shorter period (typically 3-4 weeks).  Their main focus is working together on the problem or project as assigned, and to present a comprehensive report at the end. 

With their high level of motivation and fresh ideas, interns can inspire an organization’s teams. They are highly enthusiastic about their chosen career field, eager to learn, and looking to prove themselves. We often see teams responding to their drive and creativity, and interns are often sorely missed when their internship comes to an end.

What is involved?

Hosting a student or a project team for an internship can be challenging yet rewarding.  To maximize the potential for a successful experience, GAV asks the following of host organizations:

  • Assign a full-time employee to serve as the interns’ primary contact and/or supervisor during regular working hours for the duration of the internship.
  • Provide skill-appropriate, professionally relevant tasks to occupy the interns full time for the duration of the internship.
  • Provide any equipment, software, and space necessary for the interns to complete the task.  (For virtual internships you may assume that all have their own laptops.)
  • Include the interns, where appropriate, in meetings, events, discussions, presentations, outings, and any other activities relevant to learning and skill development.
  • Introduce the interns to clients, relevant team members, and other organization staff to facilitate project completion and professional networking.
  • Communicate with GAV in case of any problems or concerns regarding an intern.
  • Complete GAV’s supervisor feedback report within 2 weeks after the end of the internship.

GAV understands that hosting a student requires time and patience, and how important it is that the right intern is matched with your project or team. Likewise it is paramount to us, our  university partners, and our students, that they learn as much as possible through their internship. Therefore, to ensure that each manager and team has the time and energy to help guide an enthusiastic intern in the workplace, GAV manages everything outside of the internship. This includes the following:  

  • strategic matching of students with host organizations;
  • local accommodations;
  • in-country orientation;
  • international health insurance;
  • visa application oversight;
  • 24/7 support for the student for the duration of the internship;
  • support during local business hours for the company hosting the student.

If you are able to invest time and energy to host an intern or a project group, and include them in your organization’s day-to-day activities that help grow their skills and experience, we encourage you to learn more about our internship program by contacting us.