Remote and virtual internships
Industry internships and placements provide students with the opportunity to apply knowledge and skills from their studies in a real-world context, learn from practitioners in an industry setting, and expand their workplace skills and networks, positioning them for future career success.
The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the need for innovative and online internship opportunities. As the COVID-19 social distancing measures were put into place there was a need to rapidly alter arrangements for internships to ensure student wellbeing. While some internships needed to pause or stop, many students were able to continue with their projects with appropriate adjustments. Other existing opportunities, such as virtual internships, were able to continue unaltered.
We asked Melissa Connor, Academic Director, Work Integrated Learning, Faculty of the Professions and Melissa Oxlad, Course Coordinator Psychology Internships, what has worked well for their students in transitioning to remote working arrangements for internships.
They emphasised the need for regular connection with students. As Melissa Connor explains, ‘To help students to stay connected with Professions Internship we have been holding Friday lunchtime online catch ups. This provides a way for students to talk to each other about their internships as well as informally ask questions and receive advice from the course coordinator.’
It’s also important to be mindful of the challenges students are facing. ‘Maintaining regular contact with the interns, being understanding that they are doing the best they can to complete internship tasks in a timely manner while also trying to manage many competing life demands, finding ways to help them maintain or improve motivation and providing additional support for assessment-related questions has been essential in assisting students to be successful in achieving their goals,’ said Melissa Oxlad.
Student feedback on their internship experience so far has been very positive and despite the challenges caused by social distancing measures internships have been enjoyable and a great learning experience.
‘Rather than complain about these changes, students have embraced them and been proactive in asking questions and seeking support when needed’ said Melissa Oxlad.
‘Some students have been able to maintain their original internship tasks but transitioned to completing them remotely with minimal disruption, while others have remained with the same host but have been assigned completely new tasks which have required them to demonstrate even greater initiative, time management skills and to work independently. Psychology interns have shown excellent resilience, flexibility and adaptability’ she said.
This has been echoed across the University, as colleagues from across the Faculties spoke of the resilience and adaptability of our student interns.
Future opportunities
While the COVID-19 situation has certainly led to disruption of educational plans, both broadly and for internships and other forms of Work Integrated Learning, it also presents opportunities for us to test novel ways of operating, and to assist our industry and community partners with the challenges they are facing.
Some of these opportunities include:
- New models of virtual and remote placements, or expansion of existing programs, that can carry on beyond the current situation and support the scaling up of student opportunities.
- Assisting students to see the value in new ways of doing work, including remote work, which are likely to persist into the future. Remote internships provide an excellent opportunity to enhance employability skills and demonstrate digital literacy.
- Broadening and deepening our engagement with industry and community partners, to address the challenges arising from the pandemic.
- New opportunities arising with partner organisations that due to geographical constraints would not have been viable under face-to-face internship models.
Resources to support students, host organisations and University staff with remote internships have been developed in conjunction with the Employability Community of Practice, and will soon be available on the Internships Website.
Join the conversation
If you’re interested in Employability and innovative models of Work Integrated Learning, join the conversation!
The group provides regular webinars, resources and conversations on the impacts of COVID-19 - now and into the future.
The Employability Community of Practice is a University of Adelaide community of academic and professional staff supporting student learning for employability.