DeVryWorks

Internships and Apprenticeships

Experiential Learning for a New Era

Just as education has evolved from the strict confines of a classroom environment to more flexible and learner-centric models of remote, classroom and hybrid options, the experiential learning concept of the internship has also come a long way. At DeVryWorks, we’re embracing this change and working with our employer partners to look for new ways to help them offer experiential learning opportunities to students and entry-level talent.

Unconventional Programs for Today’s Unconventional Student Population

Employers, employee learners and students on the pathway toward entry-level employment can all feel good about the evolution of internships from our parents’ generation. According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, following a 9.1% increase in 2022-2023,1 intern hiring is expected to remain stable in 2024, and 60% of employers report their interns will be working both in-person and virtually this year.2

Traditionally, students in their junior and senior years of four-year college programs have been prospects for internships. At DeVry University, we’re extending these opportunities to students at earlier stages of their educational careers. 

Tangible Benefits for Students and Employers

Employers are eager to connect with entry-level job candidates. Career-minded students are looking for well-defined career pathways. Both can reap substantial benefits. 

Benefits for employers

  • Strong connections: Internships connect them with high-potential, career-focused students.

  • Cost savings: Conversion from intern to full-time employee reduces cost, improves ROI.

  • Greater diversity: By hiring interns from a non-traditional student population like DeVry’s, employers have access to a greater diversity of internship candidates.

  • Cultural exposure: Internships expose candidates to a company’s culture before they are hired.

  • Time savings: Internships can be a time-saver for HR teams. Interns transitioning to new employees can be onboarded faster.

  • Reduced turnover: Retention rates for employees who served as interns are higher at the one-year and five-year marks than those who lack this experience. For employees who completed an internship at the same company, retention rates are even higher.1  

Benefits for students and employee learners

  • Strong connections: Internships connect them with high-potential, career-focused students.

  • Flexibility: Virtual internships allow working adult students to be fully engaged with experiential learning without having to relocate or commute to an office location.

  • Confidence-boosting: For non-traditional working adult students, an internship program can provide an emotional lift. 

  • Networking: Students can begin to build their professional networks earlier, developing student and employer contacts who may support them at this stage or later in their careers. 

The Pre-Internship: More Than a Resume-Builder

In partnership with Internship on Demand, DeVry is helping students in bachelor degree in Computer Information Systems, Software Development or Cybersecurity and Networking programs connect with pre-internship opportunities. What’s a pre-internship? In the past, a traditional college-to-career path may have consisted of three steps – College, internship, then career. In today’s hyper-competitive economy, a fourth step, the pre-internship, allows experiential learning to occur earlier on the career pathway, helping students get a closer look at careers before making a full commitment.

 

The typical pre-internship is three weeks in duration, in a remote format, with a curriculum that allows students to begin developing professional workplace skills, familiarize themselves with industry-specific software and gain exposure to the sponsoring company’s culture. 

“Pre-internships are allowing our non-traditional students to be proactive, rather than reactive. As they’re doing their internships leading up to graduation, this becomes a huge confidence-booster, not just a resume-builder.”

 

Kathaleen Emery

Mgr., Employee Relations & Internships

DeVry University

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Clark Barber
Vice President, DeVryWorks
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We believe affordability is key for providing access to educational opportunities. That's why we are offering qualifying employees of select organizations the DeVry Completion Grant. It was designed to reduce tuition debt for those looking to pursue their educational aspirations, helping to make it more affordable.
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