"Istanbul is one of the first major cities, outside of the United States, that I have had the pleasure to experience. To be perfectly honest, I was a little nervous before I left because Turkey is not a common place for American tourists to visit. Once I arrived , though, I experienced the wonderful hospitality of the Turkish people as everybody I met, friends and strangers, went out of their way to make my five weeks in Istanbul the best imaginable. The people are generous, their history is fascinating, and the monuments are breath taking…I will definitely return in the near future and bring others to see what I experienced in the summer of 1999." Gale Govaere Intern, Summer 1999 Click here for More Tales from Abroad

 

What is an MSU Alumni International Academic Internship?

Credit

Unpaid / Paid

Goals and Outcomes of an International Internship

Eligibility and Acceptance

Setting Up an MSU Alumni International Academic Internship

Application Procedure

Financial Aid and Scholarships

Pre-departure Preparation

On-site Experience

Professional Expectations/Ethics

On-campus Contacts and Resources

References

Student Checklist

 

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What is an MSU Alumni International Academic Internship?

An MSU Alumni International Academic Internship is an educational process that occurs in an international setting and requires continued interaction between the student, internship coordinator/faculty member, MSU International Alumni Club, site supervisor, and Michigan State University. The internship is an experiential learning activity in which the student accepts a large share of the responsibility for learning. The internship agency/organization involves the student as a functional member of its system and works with the student and MSU to provide a worthwhile professional learning experience. Likewise, MSU is responsible for coordinating the learning activity as an integral part of the student’s total program of professional development.

Credit

All MSU Alumni International Academic Internships offer credit, but since the academic arrangements for these internships are handled by individual MSU colleges and departments, the number of credits and academic requirements vary. (See Setting Up an MSU Alumni International Academic Internship for further details.) Academic arrangements must be made through your home college. Because a wide range of majors participate in internships, there is no set curriculum. An internship may be structured in a variety of ways, according to the nature of the career field and the sponsoring organization. Students may work on a specified project or assume responsibilities in a single department, or may observe several different areas. While there is considerable variability in internships, most internships fall into one of three categories:

1. Interns are assigned to assist an individual in the conduct of his/her daily routine.
2. Interns perform duties identical to those of regular employees.
3. Interns complete a one-time project.

Unpaid / Paid

Beause of difficulties created by visa requirements, and because of MSU’s desire not to displace local workers, most internships secured through this program will not be paid. However, local hosts and organizations may help to defray associated costs such as providing subsidized housing, transportation costs, and/or food expenses.

Goals and Outcomes of an International Internship

The goals of an international academic internship enable a student to:

1. Establish and address personal and professional development goals.
2. Develop necessary employment skills and strategies.
3. Gain cross-cultural skills and adaptation, improve foreign language competencies, enhance communication with different populations, and understand the structure and operation of an international organization.
4. Apply ideas, concepts, theories and principles acquired in an academic program, and bridge the gap between academic and professional worlds by exploring career interests and learning to face and define broader global issues.
5. Identify professional strengths and limitations with the assistance of the site supervisor and internship coordinator and use these established contacts for developing future career goals.
6. Increase opportunities for career placement in multi-national and international companies, government agencies, and educational institutions.

Although most students find the internship experience extremely valuable, there are occasional disadvantages to internships such as demanding assignments that leave little time to explore the local culture. Conversely, some internships may involve excessive busy work at the expense of professional tasks, or may simply lack structure. The intern may have to demonstrate initiative before receiving more responsible assignments. MSU cannot guarantee an internship placement to meet a student's exact specifications.

Eligibility and Acceptance

The student must be in good academic standing, with a GPA of at least 2.00, at the time of application. Meeting this minimum GPA does not, however, guarantee acceptance since additional eligibility criteria may apply, and they must be judged academically prepared by appropriate program faculty members and the sponsoring agency. Admission is based, minimally, on a review of their application and Judicial Affairs Office records. The student's transcript and status report from the Judicial Affairs Office will be obtained directly by the Office of Study Abroad and need not be submitted with your application.  Participation may be denied if conduct prior to departure raises doubts that the student should be allowed to participate in an international experience.

Setting Up an MSU Alumni International Academic Internship

Start by checking the MSU Alumni Association web site for the current MSU Alumni International Academic Internship offerings. You may also wish to contact Cindy Felbeck Chalou, Assistant Director, Office of Study Abroad (OSA) via e-mail at chalouc@msu.edu or by telephone at 432-4345, for further details and explanation. She will facilitate communication with the sponsoring MSU international alumni club to determine the feasibility of the student's preferred internship.

Since these internships offer credit, the next step is to talk with the college/department’s internship coordinator. If you don’t know who the internship coordinator is, check Career Services and Placement for a listing of the current college/department internship coordinators. Meet with this person to determine the eligibility requirements for internship credit; the approval process for obtaining this credit; a general description of the academic expectations and credit; the learning contract; and the procedure for setting up an internship. The student's academic adviser and specific departmental faculty may also be able to assist you. Be prepared to create a professional resume and cover letter stating your professional and personal internship goals. (Visit Career Services and Placement for resume critiquing.)

The internship requirements vary for different colleges and departments, but in most cases, the internship learning contract made between the student and the student's coordinator will consist of:

1. General goals and individual learning objectives to be pursued during the internship;
2. A summary of responsibilities and duties to be assigned by the agency providing the internship;
3. Reading and other tasks to be completed prior to beginning the internship (if any);
4. Academic requirements associated with the internships (e.g., readings, papers, research projects, seminar attendance);
5. Basis for grading and the assignment of credit.

The features and details of the learning contract will be worked out under coordination offered by the internship coordinator with input from the on-site contacts.

Application Procedure

Once academic approval has been obtained for the internship, the student should obtain an application from the Office of Study Abroad at 109 International Center or the Web and submit a completed and signed application. The application must contain the following items:

1. Application for Study Abroad
2. Signed Student Health/Emergency Treatment Authorization
3. Signed Agreement to Participate
4. Completed and signed Internship Approval Form (available from your college/department).

A $100 non-refundable application fee will be posted and due on the student's MSU student account after you submit your application. When an application is submitted, the student will be given an Internship Information Packet to provide basic information while they are waiting for your application review. This $100 application fee will cover the cost of insurance coverage provided by Hinchcliff International Group Services, Inc. for international assistance, emergency evacuation and repatriation, and accident and sickness insurance. A MEDEX card, summary, claim form, and detailed information regarding the coverage and emergency telephone numbers will be given to you as part of the orientation packet.

The application will be reviewed by the college/department representative and OSA, and the student may be asked to meet with representatives from the college/department, OSA and the MSU Alumni Association before acceptance. Once admitted into a program, the student will be billed for a $200 deposit. This deposit will be posted and due on the student's account and must be paid by the due date indicated on the bill. If the student does not pay the deposit by the due date indicated on the bill, the deposit will accrue monthly late charges until it is paid in full. If a student participates in the internship program, they will be refunded the full $200 deposit; however, if they should decide to withdraw or transfer from the program after acceptance, the student will be responsible for paying this $200 deposit.

Once accepted, the student will be instructed on how to register for the approved number of credits of the international section of your college’s internship course. Once enrolled in this course, the student will become eligible for financial aid. Theywill receive a bill for tuition and fees during the usual billing cycle. The participant will be responsible for paying all other expenses on theirown.

Financial Aid and Scholarships

The student can use their MSU financial aid to cover the cost of participating in the internship. If the student indicates on their application that they plan to use financial aid to pay for the internship, the Office of Study Abroad will forward a Financial Aid Approval Form with all of the estimated costs to the MSU Office of Financial Aid for processing.

All MSU undergraduate and graduate students who have applied for an internship, and who have a minimum overall grade point average of 3.0, or better are encouraged to apply for an MSU Study Abroad Scholarship. A scholarship application will be given to the student when they submit their  internship application. The scholarship deadlines are: late October for spring internships and March for summer, fall and academic year internships.  Check with the Office of Study Abroad early for exact dates.

Pre-departure Preparation

Throughout the application process, it is likely the student and their internship coordinator will communicate regularly with someone from the MSU International Alumni Club. Working with this MSU International Alumni Club, OSA will assist with housing, visas, working papers, and other logistical arrangements that must be completed prior to departure. Once all the logistical arrangements have been made with the MSU International Alumni Club and sponsoring agency, the student may be asked to sign a student/internship supervisor agreement. Additionally, they may be informed of non-academic expectations (timelines, conduct during the internships, compensation, etc.).

A group orientation, sponsored by OSA, the MSU Alumni Association, and your college/department, will be held several weeks before the end of the semester prior to your experience. This orientation will include advice for personal and academic preparation; information about program expectations, living and other logistical arrangements; suggestions for traveling to and living in the host country; and general substantive background information about the student's host country.

On-site Experience

It is expected that a member from the sponsoring MSU International Alumni Club will pick the student up at the airport upon your arrival; orient them to area facilities and services, sponsoring internship organization, MSU international alumni club, travel and banking, health and medical needs, recreational facilities, access to student groups, social, cultural and academic events, etc.; assist with personal problems, adjustment issues, and your general health and well-being; resolve problems related to housing; assist you in arranging trips and other cultural activities; and communicate with MSU in the event of an emergency.

Professional Expectations/Ethics

For the purpose of efficiency and effectiveness of the internship experience, the student is expected to actively engage in the international experience, always maintain a professional attitude, manner and appearance, and respect the traditions and customs of the host country. Throughout the internship the student should, ask questions and seek information about the culture of the organization and host country. They should demonstrate an initiative and enthusiasm toward the internship organization and its programs and a responsible attitude toward the facilities and equipment. The participant should display a cooperative and helpful attitude toward all organizational personnel and maintain good public relations, both internally and externally, for the internship organization. Participants are expected to complete all assignments and reports as required by the internship organization and MSU sponsoring unit.

On-campus Contacts and Resources

In addition to the student's internship coordinator, the following individuals can assist in planning, participating and completing a MSU Alumni International Academic Internship:

References

1. Hoffa, William and John Pearson, editors. 1997. NAFSA’s Guide to Education Abroad for Advisers and Administrators
2. Michigan State University Department of Park, Recreation and Tourism Resources, Experiential Learning Handbook: Student Edition
3. Cisco, Shari. 1997. Internship Program Center for Integrative Studies in Social Science Sponsor Packet

 

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MSU Alumni International Academic Internships: Student Checklist

This checklist supplements materials that will be given to you throughout the application, admissions, and orientation processes.  Please read all materials that are given to you to obtain complete details.  This list is not intended to provide every detail.

Advanced Planning

q       Visit Office of Study Abroad (OSA) Resource Area, 109 International Center to obtain program information sheets and  internship descriptions.  Alternatively, consider a non-MSU internship offering.  The following steps apply to MSU internships.  If you select a non-MSU internships and intend to earn credit, see http://www.studyabroad.msu.edu/shared/nonmsu.html for procedures to follow.

q       Contact your college faculty/staff contacts for internship development (check http://www.csp.msu.edu/res/faculty.htm for listing), Career Services and Placement (CSP), academic adviser, or your departmental faculty to seek guidance in developing professional and internship goals, discuss your plans, and obtain academic approval

q       Attend Study Abroad Fair (September and January) and informational sessions held throughout semester

q       Prepare professional resume and cover letter stating professional and personal internship goals (Visit http://www.csp.msu.edu/cdc/services/advising.htm for resume critiquing and http://www.csp.msu.edu/cdc/webport/ResumesandLetters.html for resume tips)               

Applying to a Program

q       Obtain an application packet at OSA or on the Web (http://studyabroad.msu.edu)

q       Submit completed and signed application forms and prepare for a possible selection interview

q       Prepare to receive a bill and pay the $100 application fee

q       If you plan to use Financial Aid, make sure you have submitted a current FAFSA to the MSU Office of Financial Aid  (OFA):  OSA will automatically send your internship costs and financial aid request to OFA

q       If you have a 3.0 GPA or higher, turn in your study abroad scholarship application (deadlines are October 1 and February 1)

q       Wait for notice regarding the acceptance status of your application

Pre-departure Preparation

Once you have received official notice of your acceptance from OSA, you may proceed with the following:

q       Apply for a passport (this can take 4-6 weeks)

q       Prepare to receive and pay your bill for the $200 deposit (if applicable)

q       Make flight arrangements and be prepared to pay airline bill

q       Visit MSU Travel Clinic three months before departure to obtain information on immunization requirements

q       Contact your college/department internship coordinator or OSA if you need a release from your residence hall contract

q       Speak with OSA about visa requirements for your country.  Inquire from a travel agent or country consular office(s) about visa requirements for additional countries you plan to visit, and follow instructions in a timely manner

q       Prepare to receive and pay your bill for the program balance, if applicable (approximately two months before departure)

q       Attend your internship orientation

q       Contact MSU International Alumni club to identify whether there are MSU alumni at your proposed site (http://www.msualum.com/clubs/international/)

q       Check the State Department web site (http://travel.state.gov/) regularly between now and your departure for information related to safety in the countries you plan to visit

q       Complete all the necessary paperwork for establishing your internship, including signing the learning contract

q       Enroll in the internship course(s) through the usual on-campus enrollment process or as instructed by OSA

q       Prepare to receive and pay a bill for your tuition and fees

q       Complete required academic tasks (if any) and purchase textbooks or materials needed before departure

q       Plan a budget and obtain sufficient funds to cover expenses while abroad.  Ensure that these funds are either accessible from abroad (credit card, ATM) or can be carried with you (traveler’s checks)

q       Inform your family or friends of your location (work and residence) and how you can be reached while abroad

Participation and Beyond!

q       Participate in the internship and carry out assigned duties, responsibilities and expectations as agreed

q       Upon return, submit internship evaluation to OSA

q       Meet with your internship coordinator to debrief

q       Attend re-entry sessions sponsored by OSA

q       Consider all the ways to continue your international experience (foreign language, writing articles, development of web materials, etc.)