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Virtual Internships Gain Popularity Among MBA Degree Seekers
By Catherine Groux
Posted January 25, 2012 04:38 PM
The 2011 National Survey of Student Engagement indicated that about half of undergraduate college students participate in an internship, practicum, field experience or clinical assignment. Among business majors in particular, about 43% of students engage in these forms of hands-on learning. However, internship participation does not end when individuals earn their bachelor’s degrees, as many Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree seekers also engage in these programs.
While internships are not always required for MBA degree seekers, many students opt to participate in them for a variety of reasons. On top of the potential to gain valuable experience and meet professionals in the field, statistics show that many internships can lead to full-time job offers. According to Bloomberg BusinessWeek, in 2010, about 22% of students with internships at the University of Texas, Austin’s McCombs School of Business received full-time job offers. Additionally, at Washington University's Olin Business School, 26% of individuals with internships got job offers from their employers.
Still,
Today, more students are choosing to complete internships over the internet. while the benefits of pursuing an internship remain the same, MBA degree seekers are now finding new ways to engage in these learning opportunities. According to a recent BusinessWeek article, an increasing number of students are participating in virtual internships where they connect with their employer through the internet. Frequently, these opportunities are offered by small startups; however, experts say even larger companies are beginning to search for virtual interns, or e-interns. The U.S. State Department, for example, launched the Virtual Student Foreign Service, which helps students find online internships at State Department domestic offices and diplomatic posts abroad.
BusinessWeek reports that students are attracted to these online programs because they give them a chance to gain experience, often under a more flexible schedule than location-based internships. Additionally, employers are taking advantage of virtual programs because they can utilize the talent in other countries and cities while not having to worry about finding them office space.
Heidi Johnston, a 33-year-old business and marketing major at Southern New Hampshire University, said she has been participating in an online internship with Braathe Enterprises. Because she has a full-time job, she is able to do market research for the company at nights and in the morning before work. In this way, she said her virtual internship has been helpful.
"I did have some hesitation at first about doing a virtual internship, but I absolutely got everything I expected out of it - and probably a little more," Johnston told BusinessWeek.
