The University of Cincinnati (UC), recognized as the birthplace of cooperative education, has announced an emerging partnership with Virtual Internships to provide information technology students with global work experience. The cooperation, managed by the College of Cooperative Education & Professional Studies’ Information Technology Co-op Unit, plans to provide a pilot cohort of 30 students with remote internship opportunities in information technology beginning in the summer of 2024.
As part of this collaboration, Virtual Internships, with a global network of 15,000+ host organizations in 80+ countries, will ensure that these UC students, especially those who are early in the co-op process and require significant work experience, gain quality assignments. The longer-term objective is to expand the pilot programme into more significant initiatives across the IT sector.
Through partnerships with universities, governments, and non-profit organizations, Virtual Internships pulls the traditional barriers to internships so that students can access relevant career opportunities regardless of their location or background.
Erik Alanson, Interim Unit Head and Associate Professor at UC heading the collaboration, said:
By joining forces with Virtual Internships, we are opening doors for our students beyond the Greater Cincinnati region. This initiative is about removing barriers and providing work-based learning opportunities on a global scale. We envision this as a virtual co-op option for the future, focusing on innovation and scale.
This initiative expands internship opportunities and aims to boost students’ confidence in securing future full-time employment upon completion. Students interested in participating in the program can connect with their faculty advisor at UC’s College of Cooperative Education & Professional Studies, Information Technology Co-op Unit.
Daniel Nivern, CEO of Virtual Internships, highlighted the significance of the partnership, saying:
Virtual Internships is thrilled to unite with a true industry leader. UC’s impressive ranking in the U.S. for co-ops and internships mirrors our dedication to empowering a broad spectrum of students to access meaningful global experiences.
Founded in 1819, the University of Cincinnati is one of the nation’s top urban public research universities. With nearly 50,000 students, 11,000 faculty and staff, and 332,000 alums, the University serves as a Top 35 public research university with a physical location. The New York Times called it “the most ambitious campus design program in the country.”
