Student Internship Programs

Student Internship Programs

Please Contact Gary Oxenrider, Supervisor Secondary Programs, for further information.

Definition:
Internships are work-based activities in which students engage in learning through practical and relevant experiences at various internship sites. Internships may begin at the 9th and 10th grade levels as a means of exploring career opportunities. Other internships are undertaken by students who are at or near the end of a preparatory academic program. These structured experiences involve the practical application of previously studied theory through course work. Internships are targeted to the students’ meaningful future plans and allow students to explore careers that require additional degrees, certification, or on-the-job training following high school. These experiences may be paid or unpaid based on the type
of internship program. Credit hours/outcomes and levels of intensity vary, depending on the course of study. See course descriptions in Section 4 for more details. (Adapted from Nebraska Work Based Learning Manual)

Benefits and Advantages:
The internship program is an arrangement involving the student, the student’s parents/guardians, the school, and the businesses/industries and organizations of the community. Each of these will benefit from the existence and operation of an effective internship program. Some benefits of the program include but are not limited to:
• Students receive guidance and feedback during the entire internship period.
• Business/industry and organizations are utilized for specialized training.
• Internship experiences assist in exploring future career choices.
• The private sector is provided with opportunities to take an active part in the
education and career preparation of students in the local community.
• Job experiences are supplemented with technical information and encounters that
cannot be simulated in the classroom.

In addition to these general benefits, internships offer specific advantages to the student,
school, and the community. Several of these advantages are listed below.

Advantages to the Student:
• Affords the opportunity to explore and verify career interests and competencies in an actual job situation.
• Establishes desirable work habits and attitudes while developing a sense of responsibility.
• Promotes personal success, which may motivate interest in other school subjects and activities.
• Enhances the ability of the student to develop a post-high school plan for continuing education and employment.
• Offers specialized learning experiences that could not be provided within the confines of a classroom.
• Enables classroom-learning experiences to become more relevant and meaningful.
• Provides the opportunity for possible employment at the internship site upon graduation.

Advantages to the School:
• Broadens the curriculum through the utilization of many community resources.
• Provides information for school personnel to meet the needs of a changing society.
• Fosters provisions for individual differences in interests and abilities of students.
• Establishes a cooperative working relationship between the school and the community.
• Provides interaction with professionals outside the school environment who are involved in the training of young people.
• Demonstrates the concept that education is indeed a community-wide partnership.
• Promotes assessment by both the internship coordinator and site supervisor/mentor for better guidance towards realistic career goals.
• Enhances public relations within the school community through the uniqueness and diversity of the internship program.

Advantages to the Community:
• Provides the opportunity to develop good community-school relationships.
• Allows site supervisors/mentors to share their expertise and serve as positive role models for young adults.
• Encourages young adults to stay in their local community.
• May reduce the dropout rate by providing relevant career exploration.
• Brings recognition to the community for partnering with a school.
• Allows better community understanding of an organization's structure and responsibilities.

Advantages to the Business/Industry:
• Enables business/industry to grow future workforce.
• Affords business/industry the opportunity to influence program curriculum so that skills/knowledge that are important in the field may be taught.
• Training or orientation costs may be reduced if the business/industry hires students after the internship period ends.
• Not-for-profit businesses or industries may utilize partnership with schools towards Community Benefit Report and maintenance of not-for-profit status.