Description:

In the summer of 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic put a pause on many learning opportunities that students count on as a part of their college experience. Global learning was cancelled for the safety of everyone involved, and many students suffered the loss or postponement of internships and work due to health concerns and economic issues that caused difficulties for many employers. We became acutely aware of how interconnected and global our world is, not only in terms of public health, but the world of work, as well. The University of St. Thomas is unique: We have three main campus communities, in St. Paul and Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Rome, Italy. With a pause on traditional programming, the Office of Study Abroad and the Career Development Center saw a unique opportunity to serve businesses and other organizations hard-hit by the pandemic in our Rome campus community, while also providing equitable and essential career-building opportunities for our students. This program is serving as a model for future career-related engagement opportunities with other campus and community partners, i.e., alumni, across the globe. This unique collaboration launched a remote unpaid micro-internship program, matching U.S.-based students with organizations in Rome for project-based work. This mutually beneficial program provides global, intercultural work experience for the students and much needed skilled support for the organizations they work with. This program is available at no cost to students or employers, making participation more equitable than traditional global internship or study abroad programs. Career education, competencies, and learning objectives are infused throughout the student's micro-internship experience, ensuring meaningful career outcomes for participants. Students build their digital fluency skills, gain experience in global and intercultural fluency, and their work ethic and collaboration skills are tested. Employer partners have opportunities to engage American students in a way they never have before. During this session we will take time to reflect on the importance of globally focused career education, while presenting a case study for program development and execution, including successes, challenges, and future goals.

Audience:

Career Services

Level:

Intermediate

Track:

Competencies & Skills

Type:

Traditional

Main Speaker:

Amber Bieneck Thom, University of St. Thomas

Additional Speakers: