SNHU GEM interns bring diverse ideas and perspectives to their employers, while students gain hands-on experience for their future careers.
We believe that talent is equally distributed, but opportunity is not. At SNHU’s Global Education Movement (SNHU GEM) we’re providing high-quality, low-cost higher education tailored to the needs of refugees around the world. We also believe that education must extend beyond the (virtual) classroom and emphasize equipping students with real-world skills and tools they need to create opportunities after graduating.
That’s why we started the SNHU GEM internship program. Every SNHU GEM student participates in an internship in addition to their competency-based curriculum. 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. Through these internships, students hone soft skills like collaboration, critical thinking, and project management, while developing hard skills in areas such as data analysis, research, design, writing and social media.
“The internship was a very exciting, informative, and humbling experience,” said Dimitri, an SNHU GEM student in Rwanda who interned with LRNG. “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.”
Employers working with SNHU GEM students have also found the internships to be beneficial for their business, and many have gone on to hire those interns. Following Dimitri’s internship, LRNG hired him on a contract basis, allowing him to earn a steady wage.
Barrett Nash, a founder of InfiniteUp said, “It has been an extraordinary journey working with the GEM students. As Syrians displaced in Lebanon, it’s pretty amazing to be in our own little bubble learning a next-generation skill set…and working with international clients.”
Internships typically last three to six months and students work part time, between five to 15 hours each week. Throughout the internship, students receive behind-the-scenes support from the SNHU GEM employment team, including scheduled check-ins, access to additional online courses, and a personal coach to ensure their success. SNHU GEM also provides support to our internship and employment partners on navigating international hiring and building an inclusive work environment for displaced interns and employees.
You can be a part of the movement to create transformative outcomes for displaced learners by bringing on SNHU GEM interns or becoming an employment partner. Interested in learning more? Send us an email at [email protected].
