GEM internships pair students with companies across sectors — equipping students with hands-on skills for their future careers.
SNHU GEM’s outcomes-oriented, student-driven model means that our program not only provides the knowledge for our students’ success, but also provides the tools and skills to help students navigate their professional careers. That’s why, in addition to our competency-based curriculum, every GEM student participates in an internship as part of completing their associate or bachelor’s degrees.
How does the GEM internship program work?
The GEM internship program matches students with organizations and professionals across sectors — from nonprofits to creative agencies, research institutions to education organizations. This past year, GEM students participated in more than 300 internships with organizations like the Aspen Institute, Global Nomads Group, and the Fund for Refugee Initiatives.
During their internships, students are able to learn not only about industries and potential career pathways, they’re also able to hone their skills in areas like research, design, and writing.
“The internship was a very exciting, informative, and humbling experience,” said Dimitri, a GEM student in Rwanda. “I learned about the creation of content and putting users at the center of the thought process. Moreover, attention to detail and task management are among a few of the skills that I improved upon during the internship.”
The commitment typically lasts between three to six months and students work part time, between five to 15 hours each week. During the internship, students receive behind-the-scenes support from the GEM employment team. This includes scheduled check-ins, access to additional online courses, and a personal coach to ensure their success throughout the internship.
Internship supervisors and companies have also found working with GEM students to be beneficial.
“Working with GEM has been a seamless process from beginning to end,” said Alisa Tafoya, Dimitri’s supervisor at LRNG. “The outcomes of having a GEM intern working with the Learning Design & Assessment team resulted in wonderful collaborations, design thinking, and fresh perspectives that helped move our work forward.”
Today, Dimitri’s internship at LRNG has actually led to meaningful employment. He is now working for LRNG on a contract basis, earning a wage that exceeds the local average in Kigali.
