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NASBITE AnnualConferenceWednesday, March 30, 2022
Virtual Global Opportunities for StudentsMary Conran, Temple UniversitySusan Dragotta, Waukesha County Technical College
Virtual Internships In a time of covidNasbite Spring Conference 2022Mary Conranmconran@temple.eduTEMPLE UNIVERSITYMarch 2022
As a result of Covid Restrictions, many academic programs hadto consider removing or adapting delivery of value-addedactivities, such as internships.This adaptation brings challenges and opportunities whenpivoting international student internships to a virtual format.How do we continue to offer learners the critical outcomes ofinternships despite the ongoing global pandemic?Nasbite Spring 2022Conference
InternshipsCredit-bearing experiences offerundergraduate and graduate students anopportunity for experiential learning;participants enjoy the benefits of aninternship (Skills, competencies, andexperiences useful for improving their careerreadiness) but also allow opportunities themto expand and explore their globalcompetence in a virtual delivery model.Nasbite Spring 2022Conference5
Covid hitsSpring 2020
Spring 2020over 40 students completing in-personinternships with Italian internshipsponsorsWe had to adapt the delivery model toallow participants to continue withwork with their sponsors in a virtualformat.Working with internship sponsors, we re-formattedthe scope of internships to allow a focus on projectbased deliverables.
Summer then Fall2020Continuing the model with adaptationsBased on the successful conclusion ofthe program in Spring 2020 andongoing pandemic issues whichprecluded sponsoring in-personprogram participants in Summer andFall of 2020.
In personProgrammingreturns We offered in-person courses inSpring 2021; however, theinternship program was modifiedto offer Virtual ONLY internships,even to students studying inRome. In summer 2021 we returned to in-personSpring 2021 forwardinternships but have continued to offer virtualinternships to our students on our maincampus.
Virtual internships are 3-credit learningcourses to full-time studentsHow VirtualInternships work Applicants have at least a 3.0 GPA. Participants register for the appropriateVirtual internship course (3 credit course). Faculty supervisor at Temple UniversityRome oversees the internship experience,sets the evaluation requirements, meetswith the student regularly via Zoom, andrequires a final report or project related tothe virtual internship experience.
Most internships becameproject/deliverable based which allowedparticipants to build their portfolios.Nasbite Spring 2022ConferenceFaculty supervisor (based in Rome)oversaw the internship experience, set theevaluation requirements, met with thestudent regularly via Zoom, liaised withinternship sponsors (getting feedback onthe participant’s progress), and required afinal report or project related to the virtualinternship experience.11
Working with Sponsors Nasbite Spring 2022ConferenceInternship sponsors were willing, and eager, to continue touse US Students as interns, even in a virtual format.The excitement about the virtual program allowed expansionof the base of internship sponsors who were unable tohire/sponsor local students due to travel restrictions in Italy.This expanded interest resulted in program participants in thevirtual internship program having access to the benefits ofinternational internship (focused on developing globalcompetence and emotional intelligence along with careerreadiness skills) which could have a wider and deeper impacton their career readiness.12
Virtual InternshipsVirtual Internship opportunitiesincluded working with Italian andmultinational companies, law firms,nonprofit organizations, sport andtourism consortiums, writers, localschools, galleries, museums, andlocal artists.Nasbite Spring 2022Conference13
Student Testimonials – filling a gap "My internship was canceled due to COVID. After applying to places with no luck, Ifound out about the virtual internships Temple Rome was offering. In working for asmall startup, I have been able to use my marketing skills to help grow the businessas well as learn so many other aspects of business that I probably would have nevergotten experience in if I were working for a big corporation.Daniel Joseph Conlon, Bachelor of Arts in Business-Marketing Fox School ofBusiness, Class of 2021Nasbite Spring 2022Conference14
Student Testimonials –offering learners workplace experiences “Even though I did not get to physically be in Rome, this internship was still a greatexperience. It adjusted my understanding of how business works in another countryand allowed me to become a more aware and well-rounded individual. Also, it helpedme to improve my communication skills immensely. This was a very valuableopportunity that I would not have been able to get anywhere else and I am sograteful the program allowed me to work remotely!”Lexi Summers, Bachelor of Arts in Business -Risk Management Fox School ofBusiness, Class of 2021Nasbite Spring 2022Conference15
Student Testimonial –developing cultural competence This internship is a possibly once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, as many people cannotsay that they have worked in another country (even virtually). Because of this, itlooks very impressive on your resume, and it is a good way to get school credit whilegaining professional experience and determining what career paths interestyou. The internship with Temple Rome has been an amazing experience for me and Ihope others can have the same experience.Katherine E. Page, Bachelor of Arts in Economics, Business Minor, Psychology Minor,and Spanish Certificate College of Liberal Arts, Class of 2022MMA 2021 Falleducators’Conference16
Temple RomeVirtual Interns5 - Summer 202011- Fall 202015 - Spring 2021, w/add’l 20 in person1 - Fall 2021, w/35 in person4 – Spring 2022, w/45 in person
A key outcome of the virtual internship programwas that it provided a unique opportunity/toolto support the program’s diversity initiatives;virtual internships reduce the barriers for accessto global opportunities for many participants(e.g., program participants wouldn’t need to bein the EU to contribute as an intern) and thementoring opportunities allow participants todevelop critical skills for workplace success.
Waukesha County Technical CollegeExplore, Connect, and Design Workshops
CLICK Project(Collaborative Learning for International Capabilities and Knowledge)Learning Objective: Develop cross-cultural communication and teamwork skills
Global Marketing course:Students compared outdoor, television,and social media advertising in theNetherlands and the US, and presentedtheir research in a “Pecha Kucha” format.
"I learned about the different ways that countriesdo business in my first class at WCTC, and participatingin this project made it more real to me.“- Global Business studenthttps://www.wctc.edu/ site-pdfs/wctc-impact-fall-2021.pdf
Mary ConranChief Academic Officer and Associate ProfessorTemple University RomeLungotevere Arnaldo da Brescia, 15Rome, Italy 00196 39 06-320-2808, Ext san DragottaGlobal Business InstructorWaukesha County Technical College800 Main St.Pewaukee, WI u
Temple University Rome LungotevereArnaldo da Brescia, 15 Rome, Italy 00196 39 06-320-2808, Ext 224 mary.conran@temple.edu https://rome.temple.edu Susan Dragotta Global Business Instructor Waukesha County Technical College 800 Main St. Pewaukee, WI 53045 262-691-5553 sdragotta@wctc.edu https://wctc.edu
