No VPN, airline ticket or suitcase needed.
Students now have even greater access to global learning and working experience than ever before! We know - the fun of traveling around the world is a big part of the experience - but we also find that students struggle to find the time or resources to really make it happen.
We don't expect virtual study and internship abroad experiences to replace travel in the future. We do think they are here to stay and provide excellent opportunities to build global competencies, learn to communicate across cultures and expand your global network!
You can learn more about our virtual partners and programs here, but first lets look at what these programs really look like.
CHOICES
You choose what style fits your academic and professional goals best:
1. Taking a globally-focused course to complement your studies here?
CEA says: "By enrolling in virtual courses with CEA, you become part of an online learning community that supports your academic success and encourages your development as a global citizen. You’ll learn through asynchronous teaching, as well as synchronous meetings to build community and mentorship with your CEA classmates, faculty and staff. Engagement with local students in your courses will enrich your cross-cultural experience. Additionally, you can take part in our online Lecture Series that provides an international and comparative perspective on topics that complement your online coursework. CEA’s virtual courses are fun and flexible, offer a range of thematic content, and further develops your global citizenship to thrive in an interconnected world."
2. Doing an internship project with a business or non-profit organization overseas?
Kaya Responsible Travel has internships that focus on promoting sustainable social, environmental, and economic development.
"Now more than ever, Kaya’s community partners around the world are reaching out for the help of interns who can help them push forward their great work. Your remote internship, (also known as a virtual internship or online internship or even virtual work placement), will contribute to a capacity building-project for an organization tackling social or environmental issues in their local community."
3. A little bit of both.
Many of our partners offer different options to fit your needs. From 4-week projects, to 8-16 week global internships, to a combination of a remote course and virtual internship, you can find the program that works best for you. CEA, CIS Abroad, Kaya, ISA & ISEP all offer different experiences and locations to choose from
4. US Based Virtual Internships
CIS Abroad also offers an opportunity in New York City. "Remote work isn’t the future way global business will function – it’s the present. With a virtual internship in New York City, with its global mix of people, start-ups, and organizations, you’ll work on projects from your home base while adding perspective to your professional work experience. Apply your knowledge to real-world projects, gain hands-on experience, expand your skill base, and learn what it’s like to work remotely. Although not a substitute for a traditional on-site experience, virtual internships can serve as an important stepping stone to build up your skills, resume, and cross-cultural understanding as you work with colleagues from across the U.S. and potentially the globe – a great foundation for future internships on site."
WHAT'S INCLUDED?
These experiences vary by provider, but it is important to look at what comes with the programs. Often these "added" benefits are designed to maximize your experience. Some examples include:
- Professional development & career coaching
- NACE competency training (these are the same we assess in your first year with the Focus2)
- Keynote or Online Lecture Series
- Culture Workshops
- Online buddy programs
- Face-to-face checkin's with your supervisor/project director
- and more..
Image by Stefan Coders from Pixabay
Image by Peggy und Marco Lachmann-Anke from Pixabay
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
Image by Sumanley xulx from Pixabay