For Advisors
ISA Internship programs offer your students the opportunity to gain global internship experience in a specific field of study.
Students can participate as individual applicants, or we can create cohort programs for groups of students to fit the needs of any institution.
Quick Links to more about ISA Internships
- International Internship Course & Academic Credit
- The Pillars of the ISA Internship Framework
- Cohort Programs for your institution
The Pillars of the ISA Internship Framework
ISA's internship programs have been intentionally designed with an ultimate goal of delivering future ready, internationally adept graduates into the workforce of tomorrow. An internship is meant to build upon the knowledge students gain in their university courses. Therefore, we have refined our program as students and higher education have evolved. In addition to providing quality internship placements, co-curricular dimensions of the program address both professional and personal skill development with clear learning outcomes. Furthermore, with low cost options and opportunities in the U.S., the ISA internship program is built for maximum accessibility for all students.
Quality Placements
As part of the application process, each student has a personalized advising session to help them hone in on their goals for the internship and articulate them well in the cover letter. This ensures that our on-site teams have the right details to find a placement that fits each student. We have more than 15-year's experience placing students in internships and matching students with quality placements that give them the skill development they seek.
International Internship Course (Career Readiness)
ISA's required International Internship Course has been designed around NACE’s Career Readiness Competencies and intercultural development. It provides a framework for students to critically reflect on and analyze the transferable skills gained through their internship and supports their self-awareness and personal growth in a cross-cultural context. Essentially, our course is designed to engage students to think about their career readiness within an intercultural context.
Every ISA intern has the option to add-on academic credit through our school of record, the University of South Florida. Please visit the Academic Credit page for more information.
Accessibility
We value accessibility and are pleased that our internship programs have opened doors to international experiences for a wider demographic. We offer a transcript and up to 6 credits for only $375, so participants can gain experience in their field and academic credit without as significant of a financial impact. We are committed to working with students on financial aid and encourage all eligible applicants to apply for our ISA & TEAN Scholarships.
Cultural Experience
No matter the format or location of their internship, students are guaranteed a cultural experience. Beyond the natural cultural experiences that come from working with an organization in another country, internships include excursions and cultural activities.
Internship Cohort Models
Putting together an international internship cohort program from scratch may seem complicated, but ISA makes it easy for you and your students. We have worked with a variety of universities over the years to develop internship programs that work with their specific needs. Together, we can design the perfect cohort program for you. We are happy to set up a call to discuss your interests in program type, specific dates, location availability, and the variety of placements we can offer your students.
Faculty-led + internship model
An excellent way for students to gain real-world experience and earn more academic credit is to combine a short-term, faculty-led study abroad program with an internship. Our partners at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville have been doing this for several years by having their Communications students participate in a 4-week faculty-led program in Sydney, Australia or Valencia, Spain followed by an 8-week internship.
Major-specific model
We have had great success with cohort programs that focus on one particular major or one particular school. For example, the University of California, Davis sends Psychology, and Environmental Studies students to New Zealand to participate in a 6-week internship. The students are placed in either Auckland or Wellington to allow for more bonding among the cohort, and the dates of the program align with UC Davis’ quarter system schedule.
Multi-disciplinary model
If you want to open up your cohort program to a variety of majors, it may be a good idea to focus on one location instead of one area of study. For example, one university we work with sends students from a variety of majors on an 8-week internship in Auckland, New Zealand. While the students may be studying anything from accounting to international affairs, they are housed together and are able to bond as a cohort despite the differing career fields.
