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MAKE IT WORK!International Virtual Internships
International Conference on Telecollaboration13 February 2014
Mariet VriensLIMELKU Leuven
CONTEXT AND DEFINITIONS
Virtual mobility
“a set of ICT supported activities that realize or facilitate international, collaborative experiences in a context of teaching and/or learning””
additional form of mobility, not a substitute for physical mobility
International internships
• Part of a curriculum in tertiary education• Three phases
before, during and after• Three stakeholders
student, study programme and company• Intercultural / international competencies (or at
least: “awareness”)
Why?
• Enlarging accessibility of international internships
• Offer more flexibility • Better student follow-up and coaching• Enhance quality control• Cost-effective access to new knowledge,
foreign markets and native speakers
CONDITIONS FOR SUCCESS
Conditions for success
Student characteristics:• High metacognitive skills• Experience with virtual communication• Highly motivated
Qualitative tasks• In line with student’s expectations• Achievable and challenging• Authentic and of importance to the company• Suitable for distance work
Conditions for success
Qualitative e-coaching:• clear agreements about goals and roles• following an established communication protocol• Avoid strict one-on-one setting
Commitment of all actors:• managerial support • prior written contract
Integration of the human factor:• Face-to-face contact if possible• Synchronous communication
• Non-task-related communication
IMPLEMENTATION AND EXPLOITATION
- a framework / umbrella concept for supporting and facilitating international internships at-a-distance
The Pathway platform
The Pathway platform
• supports matchmaking between students and companies
• supports the creation of an internship charter• enables a close follow-up of interns from a distance• supports online communication and collaboration• provides guidelines and advice about the organization
of virtual internships
The Pathway platform
1. Registration
2. Matchmaking
3. Internship charter
4. Internship monitoring
5. Internship assessment
Pathway: registration
Pathway: matchmaking
Pathway: guidelines and advice
Pathway: the charter
Pathway: the internship
Pathway: after the internship
Platform implementation
→ Pilot project in the field of IT and marketing:
HEI and student stakeholder group vs. business stakeholder group
→ dedicated marketing
→ start with study programmes
