Standing Out in a Competitive Market: How Global Internships Advance Student Outcomes
Authored By:
By Dr. Leah Mason, Deputy Director, Research, Evaluation, and Learning, IIE, and Dr. Alexandra Wood, Vice President, Global Ventures, & Vice President, Institutional Research and Outcomes Assessment, CIEE
Originally published in the IIENetworker
In 2024, CIEE and IIE conducted a joint research study collecting data from eight stakeholder organizations that facilitate global internship experiences for study abroad students from 2013 to 2021. It explored the professional outcomes of study abroad alumni who engaged in an internship while overseas and highlighted the impact of the global internship experience on the alumni’s development of 21st-century skills and how these skills continue to be relevant in their careers today.
Overall, respondents indicated that the 21st-century skills developed through global internships also were those most relevant in the workplace, indicating internships positively support alumni’s employability and professional outcomes.
From the article:
"...CIEE recently adjusted and expanded its internship portfolio. Students now can choose the best-suited academic term (summer or semester), number of weeks (6, 8, or 12), and blend of work experience (part-time vs. full-time) to match their individual needs. In addition, students are able to select options to integrate in-person or online coursework alongside their internship. This example highlights how study abroad organizations can implement internship programming that’s affordable and flexible in destinations around the world. The case for global internships is strong. Overall, respondents indicated that the 21st-century skills developed through global internships also were those most relevant in the workplace, indicating internships positively support alumni’s employability and professional outcomes. This is now more important as higher education institutions, students, and families are focused on career readiness. This study showcased how global internships offer a high-impact practice that supports the development of the skills employers are seeking through an experience that’s global in nature, challenging students to confidently navigate new cultural and linguistic environments as professionals and to learn to work with individuals from different backgrounds."
Read the full report in the IIENetworker here.