Applying for Opportunities
While the VIU work-integrated learning(WIL) faculty will support students throughout their internship, securing an internship is a process that is intended to simulate the experiences that students will likely encounter after they finish their academic experience. We do not use a placement model but rather an open employment model. Interested students apply for internship positions that appeal to them (just like a regular summer job), they are interviewed by the employer and if successful, become employed. Often the best Internships are located through the students’ own network or direct contacts.
Students will learn how to communicate and correspond professionally with employers. If employers contact the University with internship opportunities, the WIL faculty will forward them to students directly. All the materials you will need to produce in order to apply for an internship will be introduced in class.
The student is also required to complete an internship presentation that highlights specific learning that occurred during the internship experience.
Available employment / internship positions are posted through the Experience Hub work-integrated learning portal.
Before your Internship
A prerequisite for the internship is to successfully complete the fall semester assignments and discuss the specifics of the internship experience with the WIL faculty. Once the student secures an internship, they will be required to submit it a work term record in the Experience Hub with details of the internship. Once the WIL faculty approves the internship, a Letter of Agreement will be sent to the employer and the student to verify the experience.
During your Internship
Typically there will be two assessments for each internship experience
- Midpoint Assessment; most often this is done in a face-to-face meeting with the student, employer and WIL faculty or VIU designate.
- Final Assessment; this is completed by the employer and submitted to the WIL faculty
The student is also required to complete an internship presentation that highlights specific learning that occurred during the internship experience.
Important Resources
Course resources are available in VIULearn.