Elements of A Successful Graduate
Internship Program
Presented by Anna Maria Russo
Master of Environmental Science Internship Coordinator
Monday May 26, 2014
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO SCARBOROUGH
1265 Military Trail, Toronto, Ontario M1C 1A4
Agenda
• MEnvSc program factoids
• Student Engagement
• Employer Development
• Faculty Buy-in
• Evaluation Methods
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO SCARBOROUGH
1265 Military Trail, Toronto, Ontario M1C 1A4
Master of Environmental Science
• 12-month professional Master’s program since
2006
• Course-based with research or internship option
•
Students must complete coursework prior to
internship
• Significant number of students receive
extensions or permanent job offers
• Broad employer base
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO SCARBOROUGH
1265 Military Trail, Toronto, Ontario M1C 1A4
MEnvSc factoids
•
Internship is a degree
requirement
• worth academic credit
•
First cohort in 2006 was 12
students; 2014 head count
was 81
•
100% placement rate since
2006
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO SCARBOROUGH
1265 Military Trail, Toronto, Ontario M1C 1A4
Student Engagement
Specific Structure, Specific Expectations
•“Should vs. Must”
•Work preparation course is
built into the curriculum
•Experiential learning
elements throughout the
academic year
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO SCARBOROUGH
1265 Military Trail, Toronto, Ontario M1C 1A4
Employer Development
Traditional and Creative
•
•
•
•
Student-generated leads
Teaching staff from industry
Leveraging campus-wide
partnerships
Participation in research
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO SCARBOROUGH
1265 Military Trail, Toronto, Ontario M1C 1A4
Faculty Buy-in
The perceived value of internships
•
Regular communication
•
Industry influence on
academic planning
•
Financially-supported
placements
•
Impacts on the admissions
process
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO SCARBOROUGH
1265 Military Trail, Toronto, Ontario M1C 1A4
Employer
Student
Faculty
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO SCARBOROUGH
1265 Military Trail, Toronto, Ontario M1C 1A4
Program Evaluation
ACTIVE
• Professional
Readiness
Questionnaire
• Mid-term visits
• Employer evaluation
forms
• Annual Report
PASSIVE
•Placement rates
•Employer retention
•Student retention
•‘before and after’
resume comparisons
•Alumni relations
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO SCARBOROUGH
1265 Military Trail, Toronto, Ontario M1C 1A4