Interning in a Digital World: The Power of Virtual Internships

Guest post by Dan Kerr and Tom Gore

Internships are still vital in the development of eager, enthusiastic young people; in a socially-distanced world, how can they still get the valuable real-world internship experience they need?

Virtual internships are one option. In this blog, we’ll take you inside the virtual internship program of one pioneering global company – and show you how this younger generation is adapting to get the experience they need in this “new normal.”

How Kaya Uses Virtual Internships

Since 2008, Kaya Responsible Travel has arranged sustainable volunteering projects and internships in 27 countries across Africa, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America. Kaya’s mission is to promote sustainable social, environmental, and economic development, empower communities and cultivate educated, compassionate global citizens through responsible travel.

In response to the recent Covid-19 travel restrictions, Kaya joined with its community partners in Ecuador, Morocco, South Africa, and Vietnam to offer virtual internships that support capacity-building projects for organizations tackling social or environmental issues in their local communities. These internships are all community-driven, and they are eager to engage with students remotely so that they continue to progress the great work they have been doing. These interns join interactive weekly cultural workshops and are also paired with a “local buddy” around their age to discuss topics related to both of their cultures.

Perspective from the Interns: Their Thoughts

Olivia, a university student from Indiana, has been placed with an organization that has several health centers in Quito, Ecuador, and other cities. Interns also work with some rural communities. They take health services to their territories and train them in areas such as sexual education and reproductive health, family planning, female empowerment, and responsible paternity. 

“I love the non-profit organization that I am working with,” Olivia says. “My ultimate goal is to be a practicing physician, and this has been a perfect mix of observing/learning about clinical care while also learning much more about public health education.”

Grace, a university student from Michigan, worked with an organization in Morocco that helps local migrants, refugees, and disadvantaged youth by promoting employability through its professional training centers that offer regular workshops and classes. Grace has been teaching English to students via Zoom as part of her placement. She has advice for future virtual interns:

“Make sure you actually want to get to know your country’s culture and the people you are working with,” Grace says. “If you come into it only looking for work experience and forget that it takes engaging with people, it would be really hard to get anything out of it. Wanting to get to know Morocco and the organization I am with has made this a super enjoyable experience so far.” 

Alexandra, a high school student from Canada, worked with an organization in Cape Town that helps underprivileged girls and women through sports (in particular soccer) and helped design different soccer programs for the organization.  

“I am currently participating in a remote internship and working on putting together a sports program design for a group of underprivileged girls based in South Africa,” Alexandra says.” Although I would have liked to visit Cape Town in person, I have still been able to meet some incredible people and truly experience the South African culture within the comfort of my own home. I feel I am making a difference in these girls’ lives while they are changing mine. I have been participating in fun cultural workshops and weekly buddy chats with my new friend in South Africa as well! This experience has helped me gain perspective, think creatively, and explore my interests.” 

Sara, a university student from Michigan, works with a small local NGO in Vietnam that conducts research and provides intervention services in psychology, health, and education. Amongst other tasks, Sara has been putting together training plans on neurodevelopmental disorders and working on English lessons for beginners.  

“The relationships I’ve built with the local team and local buddies are phenomenal, and I hope I can meet them in person someday,” Sara says. “They’ve already taught me so much about Vietnamese culture and have really made it a point to get to know me. We speak every day and they always show so much love and support.” 

How Kaya Uses GlobeSmart

Kaya was aware of how GlobeSmart had been used for in-person internships and found it useful in setting expectations and reducing culture shock. When Kaya shifted to a virtual space, the company concluded the need for cultural understanding and the ability to style switch was even more important as there would be less opportunity to “naturally soak up the local culture.” It positioned GlobeSmart as a just-in-time resource for interns as they encountered challenges working virtually; the company sought to empower interns to start a respectful discussion around the differences in cultures.

Kaya uses GlobeSmart to teach students about their own working style. By completing the survey and seeing their Profile, virtual interns learn more about their working style and can compare that with the country profile of their remote internship. They can see their colleagues’ potential work styles and how to navigate those differences should they arise.

Additionally, Kaya shares the student’s Profiles with the interns’ local organizations so that they, too, can learn about the student’s work style. Virtual interns research their internship destination through the Culture Guides on GlobeSmart, particularly the “Core Knowledge,” “Communication,” “Relationship Building,” “Local Business Environment,” and “Protocol” sections.

Students find it helpful to compare GlobeSmart cultural profiles. They can see where the most significant differences are and can keep them in mind as they go through their internship. For example, students who know they are very task-oriented and rigid in their schedules will need to know how to adjust to work cultures that are more organic and relaxed. Knowing this ahead of time and setting expectations can help mitigate negativity or workplace frustration. 

Recent feedback from three virtual interns – two in South Africa, and one in Morocco – is illustrative:   

• “I found it very interesting to compare my profile to South Africa’s work culture. I also liked reading the cultural guide – these elements really helped me to prepare for my internship.”
• “The comparison between the work styles of South Africa and my own was actually super helpful, especially after I have gradually been able to observe them at play within my own internship.”
• “I loved the rating scale (directness vs. indirectness, etc.) and found this component to be the most useful!”

Kaya recommends using the GlobeSmart comparison tool and looking through the country profiles. The company believes it is essential to get a well-rounded view of the country and culture, including history, climate, social norms, and traditions, etc. 

Additionally, the company recommends that students explore GlobeSmart before they start their internships to help them get over their nerves – and instead, get excited about working in a different culture.

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