| I. Key issues for assigning the right student to an internship project(s) |
a. What types of projects are available?
b. What sort of educational background is required?
c. What type of personality (interpersonal skills, observational skills, etc.) is required?
| II. Key issues in setting the stage for the student's success in the project(s) |
a. Is the project clearly defined with milestones, timeline and deliverables defined?
b. Is there a “project manager” or lead scientist that the student is assigned to?
c. What are the “project manager’s” expectations and beliefs about the intern and the project? Are they willing to meet with the student frequently?
d. Can the project impact and outcomes be defined clearly so that the students knows what they would need to do in order to do an exceptional job?
| III. Potential ways the company and the university can ensure a successful internship |
a. The university can require students to attend a short-course on skills that can lead to successful internships (lab book skills, interpersonal skills learned from past interns, leadership skills, etc.).
b. The university and the corporation can work together to build a contract that clearly defines the criterion that the student would be judged by.
c. The student could be introduced to previous or on-going interns who would give the student an impression of what is expected and the experience.
d. to assure that the company clearly communicates to the student the context or business reasons for pursuing the specific project to be worked on by the intern. |
