2011 CACEE National Conference Niagara Falls Ontario June

2011 CACEE National Conference Niagara Falls, Ontario June 2011 Karly Pinch & Karen Benzinger Internships: Yes We Can!

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 Internships: Yes We Can! 2

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 Internships: Yes We Can! 3

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 Internships: Yes We Can! 4

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 Internships: Yes We Can! 5

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: possible Internships: Yes We Can! Wide array of program models are 6

Our Internships: Basic Comparison Arts Internship Program (UBC) VIP (WINDSOR) Faculty of Arts Undergraduate Students All Undergraduate Students 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 Internships: Yes We Can! 7

Arts Internship: Program Goals � � Enrich Arts student’s educational experience by enabling them to take part in internship opportunities that will expand 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 Internships: Yes We Can! 8

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. Internships: Yes We Can! 9

Our Internships: General Comparison of Learning Outcomes Arts Internship Program (UBC) -Discover/confirm personal preferences re: careers -Indentify employability skills developed through VIP -Identify key strengths/skills -Demonstrate professionalism in the workplace AIP (UBC) VIP (Windsor) * * -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 Internships: Yes We Can! * * * 10

Our Internships: Comparison of Tools Supporting Student Learning Arts Internship Program (UBC) VIP (Windsor) 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 Internships: Yes We Can! 11

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 Internships: Yes We Can! 12

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. . . ” Internships: Yes We Can! 13

Student Testimonials: UBC “I found it very valuable to gain experience in a nonprofit 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. ” Internships: Yes We Can! 14

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 Internships: Yes We Can! 15

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 Internships: Yes We Can! 16

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) Internships: Yes We Can! 17

Assessment & Evaluation: Tools Arts Internship Program (UBC) VIP Program (Windsor) Orientation evaluation Orientation Survey Site visits to interns and employers mid Rubrics (Resume, Cover Letter, -way through term 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 Internships: Yes We Can! 18

Benefits to Students �Experience �Career exploration �Skill development �Networking �Learning �Confidence Internships: Yes We Can! 19

Benefits to the Institution �Increased student engagement �Strengthened ties to the community �Positive student feedback Internships: Yes We Can! 20

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 Internships: Yes We Can! 21

Challenges New Program: Arts Internship Program (UBC) Established Program -VIP (Windsor) New program, less awareness of the Certain areas of student interest are hard to opportunities available among students 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 coursebased unpaid internships Internships: Yes We Can! 22

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 Internships: Yes We Can! 23

Co-existence With Other EL: UBC Arts Internship Program Arts Co-op AMS Internship Program Only for Arts undergraduate students Open to all undergraduate students Undergrad Arts students apply in 2 nd or 3 rd year Many positions, fewer Competitive positions, student applications, high especially for 1 st term chance of securing students internship 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 Internships: Yes We Can! 24

Co-existence With Other EL: Windsor Co-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 Internships: Yes We Can! 25

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? Internships: Yes We Can! 26

Conclusion �Internships can be structured in a wide variety of ways �Be creative. . what makes sense for your campus? �Build support by building relationships and working collaboratively Internships: Yes We Can! 27