University Relations / en Global Internship Conference asks: where next? /news/global-internship-conference-asks-where-next <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Global Internship Conference asks: where next?</span> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>sgupta</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2014-06-26T10:04:57-04:00" title="Thursday, June 26, 2014 - 10:04" class="datetime">Thu, 06/26/2014 - 10:04</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item"> James Bradshaw, reporter from The Globe and Mail</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/liz-do" hreflang="en">Liz Do</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-legacy field--type-string field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Author legacy</div> <div class="field__item">Liz Do</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/global-lens" hreflang="en">Global Lens</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/more-news" hreflang="en">More News</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/university-relations" hreflang="en">University Relations</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/students" hreflang="en">Students</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/international" hreflang="en">International</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/education" hreflang="en">Education</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/global" hreflang="en">Global</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-subheadline field--type-string-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Subheadline</div> <div class="field__item">¸ŁŔűĽ§×ÔÎżhosts internship conference exploring the future of internships, co-op and experiential education</div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>“What is driving us to expand internships and service learning?”</p> <p>That’s what the <em>Globe and Mail</em>’s James Bradshaw asked 350 delegates gathered at the University of Toronto earlier this month. They were there to learn more about internships and experiential education at the 2014 Global Internship Conference (GIC).</p> <p>The four-day conference held at Hart House was dedicated to advancing the knowledge of academic work placements for students.</p> <p>The University currently provides a host of experiential learning opportunities, from industry internships, such as ¸ŁŔűĽ§×ÔÎżEngineering’s Professional Experience Year;&nbsp; to co-op programs hosted locally and internationally, such as UTSC’s Management and Arts &amp; Science Co-op program; to service-learning community placements.&nbsp;But there’s always room for improvement, organizers said – especially as future graduates meet global challenges that are more complex than ever before.&nbsp;</p> <p>“Solutions to these challenges will require convergent thinking across disciplines," said <strong>Judith Wolfson</strong>, vice-president, University Relations, during the conference’s opening session. "To develop those competencies, we need to provide more multidisciplinary and experiential learning, and many more opportunities for interactive problem-solving, both inside and outside the classroom or laboratory.”&nbsp;</p> <p>As a platform for dialogue and vehicle for action, the GIC brought together colleagues to discuss and advance best practices as well as develop and examine a research agenda for global internships.&nbsp;</p> <p>“The conference was attended by many ¸ŁŔűĽ§×ÔÎżprofessionals who were exposed to a variety of international viewpoints,” said <strong>Heather Kelly</strong>, director of student career exploration and education at U of T’s Career Centre, and GIC committee member. “It helps us see where we can change or improve our own ideas and processes to provide more meaningful learning experiences for our students.”</p> <p>This year’s conference included sessions on improving students’ international internship experience and employability, discussions on unpaid internships versus co-op placements, a student panel on global internships, and a panel discussion on how experiential learning transforms youth employment, and the role of government, industry and post-secondary institutions.</p> <p>The panel was a particular highlight for many attendees. Moderated by Bradshaw, the panel included <strong>Rick Halpern</strong>, University of Toronto Scarborough's dean and vice-principal (academic), and Rocco Fondacaro, director of University of Waterloo’s Co-operative Education and Career Action. Their talk covered a range of important topics, from the increasing challenge of meeting students’ growing demand for work placements, to why institutions need to be mindful of how cultural norms affect experiential learning, and what employers are seeking in graduates.</p> <p>"More employers are looking for those who don’t just have credentials but real-world experience, whether it is internships, summer employment, or extracurricular activities. It shows their ability to transition into the workplace,” said panellist Richard Wiggers, research manager, High Education Quality Council of Ontario.</p> <p>This year’s GIC was the first to be held in Canada.&nbsp;</p> <p>“The conference was very well received and delegates were very impressed with the cultural diversity of the University and of the city,” said Kelly. “Hart House itself was an ideal venue for an international conference, as delegates shared that it embodied both the traditional and transformational aspects of U of T’s rich history and future.”</p> <p>Next year’s GIC will take place at the University College of Dublin.</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-picpath field--type-string field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">picpath</div> <div class="field__item">sites/default/files/2014-06-26-internship-conference.jpg</div> </div> Thu, 26 Jun 2014 14:04:57 +0000 sgupta 6321 at