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International Academic Internship Program Connects UW-Madison Students with International Employers
JR Central interns show off the arm bands that allowed them access to all parts of the company’s train stations. From left, Allison Loomis, Kyle Bender and Dante West of UW-Madison, and Alex Litt of Vanderbilt University.
In today’s global marketplace, it is critical that UW-Madison develop graduates who have not only knowledge of global issues but practical experience as well. With that in mind, the UW-Madison Division of International Studies, School of Business, College of Engineering, Institute for Cross-College Biology Education, Center for East Asian Studies, Center for European Studies, and Global Studies joined together to create the International Academic Internship program (IAI). Placing its first interns in the summer of 2006, IAI has helped more than 20 students obtain internships in Asia, Africa, and Latin America and with international organizations in the United States.
IAI is open to students from virtually any major or college who have completed at least one year at UW. Students earn three hours of credit in their majors by participating in the internship and completing a series of academic requirements including regular check-ins with a faculty adviser and presentation of a final project or work portfolio. The program is administered by International Academic Programs (IAP).
Six students interned through IAI in 2006. This year, 16 students were placed, 13 in summer positions and three during the fall semester. Overseas internships have been with a variety of employers, including Central Japan Railway Company (JR Central), Toshiba, Promega, Abbott Laboratories, The Bakrie Group, JohnsonDiversey, and LINCA International. During the summer of 2007, students interned in Madison for two internationally oriented organizations: Friends of Chernobyl Centers, U.S. (FOCCUS) and the Wisconsin Department of Commerce. Each internship differs in terms of structure, job responsibilities, language requirements and pay, said Michael Morris, IAP assistant director and IAI adviser.
Megan Bender, an engineering student who graduated in May, interned this summer in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, with Abbott’s Global Engineering Services. She worked with a senior engineer to assess the water storage and distribution system for Muhimbili National Hospital. “Probably the most interesting part of the work was learning how to get things done in a developing country,” Megan said. “There are completely different rules, not only in how businesses are run but also culturally in how you address certain issues.” She helped identify problems with the hospital’s water system and suggested solutions to make it work more efficiently and effectively. The experience taught her that what she does has an effect on people’s lives, she said, and how important that is to her future career plans.
IAI’s priority when placing students in internships is relevance—both for the student and for the sponsoring company. “We try to find a good match between a student’s skills and goals and the needs of the employer,” said Morris. JR Central, for example, has hired students in art history, Japanese, management, marketing, social work, and political science as interns.
International business and marketing major Kyle Bender worked with JR Central’s International Department over the summer. The company’s unique internship program, developed by its chairman, Yoshiyuki Kasai (MS ’69), enables interns to learn about all aspects of the company. The internship included lectures about each department, and visits to facilities and divisions ranging from rolling train stock to marketing and advertising. The program also required each intern to make a presentation to co-workers and superiors at the end of the internship. Although initially apprehensive about suggesting changes after only eight weeks at the company, Kyle found the presentation “the single most valuable aspect of the internship.” He recommended a network to allow all employees to share ideas. “The network would break down what I identified as three important barriers to innovation: communication, location, and hierarchy,” he said. His superior thought the network suggestion could be implemented and invited JR Central’s head of human resources to attend. “I learned that taking calculated risks has positive rewards,” said Kyle.
Students and employers interested in learning more about the IAI program should visit www.studyabroad.wisc.edu/internship/iai.asp or contact Michael Morris at intern@bascom.wisc.edu.