Increasing the number and quality of internships and experiential learning opportunities will prepare students in Northeast Indiana for full-time employment and expand the region’s talent pool to meet the needs of businesses.
To advance the region’s Vision 2030 goal of increased credential and educational attainment to 60 percent by the year 2030 and develop and retain talent in the region’s 11 counties, the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership is offering five free professional development workshops for interns through the Regional Internship Program for Employers. High school and college interns working at any organization in the region are encouraged to RSVP online.
Schedule of professional development events:
CliftonStrengths Session – 3:30-5 p.m. on Thursday, May 30 at the University of Saint Francis Downtown Campus, 431 W. Berry St., Fort Wayne, IN 46802
Generational Understanding – 3-4 p.m. on Tuesday, June 11 at Hop River Brewing Company, 1515 N. Harrison St., Fort Wayne, IN 46808
Etiquette Luncheon – 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. on Tuesday, June 25 or Thursday, June 27 at Indiana Tech, 1600 E. Washington Blvd., Fort Wayne, IN 46803
Budgeting for Students – 3:30-5 p.m. on Thursday, July 11 in the Ian Rolland Gallery at Arts United, 303 E. Main St., Fort Wayne, IN 46802
National Intern Day Celebration: Path to Promotion – 3:30-5 p.m. on Thursday, July 25 at Parkview Mirro Center, 10622 Parkview Plaza Dr., Fort Wayne, IN 46845
Sonya Snellenberger-Holm, program manager at the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership, said the internship program supports the region’s talent development and talent attraction goals, but even more than that, internships give regional employers and their staff the opportunity to become more engaged at work, experience a new role and work with individuals on other teams.
A study done by Battelle Technology Partnership Practice reported that one work experience opportunity increases a student’s likelihood of living in Indiana after graduation to 58 percent. Four work experience opportunities increase that likelihood to 75 percent.
“As the research shows, it takes more than one internship to make a community ‘sticky.’ Simply hosting an intern isn’t enough to keep young talent in the region. Our effort involves more than just hosting interns. We aim to exceed the expectations of students and employers by providing a high-quality internship program,” said Snellenberger-Holm.
Providing a high-quality internship is more than just agreeing to bring an intern into the organization. It means preparing and planning a robust program. As part of the Regional Internship Program for Employers, the Regional Partnership provides full program implementation assistance, recruitment training, project planning and mentor training to help employers launch, build or enhance an internship program.
More than 100 organizations sent over 200 interns to last year’s Professional Development Series. Businesses looking to start or amplify an internship program are encouraged to contact Snellenberger-Holm to learn more about this free program to employers.
