Virtual Internships Link Graduate Students with Experienced Professionals Regardless of Location

Advances in technology, including high-speed Internet connections and low-cost portable devices, have made the virtual workplace a reality. A 2011 study, Telework Canada: The bottom line on telework, revealed the following benefits of telework (remote or virtual work): an increase in employee productivity, an increase in employee satisfaction, and a reduction in employer costs (Lister and Hamish).

Institutions of higher education are beginning to recognize the value of virtual internships as valid experiential learning opportunities to acquire professional skills and competencies. Columbia University’s Virtual Internship Program Website provides compelling rationale:

Currently, over 8 million people work virtually across the United States and, increasingly, companies and organizations are exploring the virtual workplace.

Research indicates that field experiences, including internships positions, are an important component of a professional graduate program that builds beneficial connections between students and potential future employers. 

There is a growing demand by students in many disciplines to participate in relevant field experiences that allow them to apply what they are learning while building connections with potential future employers and boosting the experience they can feature on their résumé.

Students want to find internship opportunities in settings that interest them and match their career aspirations, yet students often find it challenging to locate a relevant internship nearby that fits around their school, work, and family responsibilities. Sometimes the best internship opportunity for a student may be across the country, making it nearly impossible for a student to participate in a rewarding supervised field learning experience.

But traditional internships tend to be placed-based, especially in archival programs. To participate, students need to be located near an approved internship site or work with the internship coordinator to locate an acceptable internship site near their home. This arrangement presents students who live in rural areas with several unsatisfactory options: to move temporarily near an approved internship site, to travel long distances to and from the internship site, to expend a great deal of time and energy locating an acceptable internship near their homes, or to forgo participating in an internship experience altogether. 

Virtual internships offer one solution to students who want to complete a relevant field experience aimed at helping them prepare to achieve their career goals.

The benefits of virtual internships to students are many. Have you wondered what the benefits are for the site supervisor?

Most virtual internship site supervisors participate in the internship program in order to positively impact the education of future professionals.  However, employers also benefit from this mutual exchange of “on the job” training in exchange for the services of well-trained, highly motivated interns in a variety of ways.  Specifically, employers engaging SLIS virtual interns benefit by: 

• Advertising for an intern through the SLIS database free of charge.   
• Employing students comfortable with information and communication technology. 
• Taking advantage of the up-to-date knowledge and skills virtual interns possess.  
• Obtaining assistance to conduct projects that permanent employees can’t fit into their regular schedules. 
• Expanding the labor pool without making a long-term commitment. 
• Avoiding the costs involved in allocating office space and purchasing equipment for temporary employees.  
• Selecting the most qualified interns regardless of their geographic location.

The School of Library and Information Science (SLIS) at San Jose State University offers two degree programs:  1) the Master of Archives and Records Administration (MARA) degree and 2) the Master of Library and Information Science degree (MLIS). Students in the MLIS degree can follow a career pathway that prepares them to work in archives and records management positions.

SLIS has a robust internship program for students pursuing both the MLIS and MARA degrees that provides place-based and virtual internship opportunities to students.  Learn more about the SLIS internship program at http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/classes/294/index.htm 

Virtual internship sites are being identified now for fall 2012 and spring 2013. If you are interested in offering a virtual internship opportunity, read the information posted to this page http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/interns/virtual/index.htm

If you would like to discuss either place-based or virtual internship positions within your organization, contact Dr. Patricia C. Franks at patricia.franks@sju.edu

Revised by the author September 30, 2012

<< Previous: News Brief: Motorola Solutions Heritage Archives | Spring/Summer 2012 |

SAA Home / BAS Home / Contact the Editors