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Virtual Internship: Connect 123 (Outgoing Program)

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  • Locations: Barcelona, Spain; Buenos Aires, Argentina; Cape Town, South Africa; Dublin, Ireland; Shanghai, China; Sydney, Australia; Virtual, Virtual
  • Program Terms: Summer
  • Host Program Website: Visit host website for more information
  • Restrictions: PSU applicants only
  • Budget Sheets: Summer
Fact Sheet:
Fact Sheet:
Click here for a definition of this term Education Abroad Adviser: Chris Nischalke Click here for a definition of this term Minimum GPA: 2.5
Click here for a definition of this term Class Standing: 2 - Sophomore Click here for a definition of this term Graduate/Undergraduate: School of International Affairs, Undergraduate
Type of Program: Internship Click here for a definition of this term Language Requirement: 0 - none
Click here for a definition of this term Internship Available: Yes
Program Description:

Overview

Overview

Connect-123 develops and administers international internship programs in Barcelona, Buenos Aires, Cape Town, Dublin, Shanghai, and Sydney. All locations offer virtual internship opportunities that are hosted by local companies, nonprofit organizations, schools, research institutes, hospitals, and health care clinics.

Connect123’s experienced, international team advises program participants prior to departure and provides ongoing support and guidance throughout the placement. This includes academic advice and mentoring, and hands-on help in case of an emergency.

Eligibility

  • 18 years of age or above
  • Good academic and disciplinary standing at Penn State
  • 2.5 cumulative GPA or better at the time of application review
  • Sophomore standing or above at the start of the program

Program Description

Virtual international internships provide a unique opportunity to participate in real working environments from the safety of your own home. You’ll be fully supervised and supported as you gain industry knowledge from within your chosen career field, after which you’ll be able to highlight the experience on your CV/resume as you would with any other internship. Completing a remote internship demonstrates adaptability, problem solving skills, and the ability to motivate oneself – all skills which are highly sought after by employers.

All students are required to intern for 8 weeks and participate in Connect 123's extracurricular activities.

All virtual interns in the program have access to:
  • Guaranteed international internship in your career field
  • A dedicated program coordinator who will personally guide you through the program
  • A virtual orientation session that will provide tips about remote work and local culture
  • Resources to help you build your network, within your program cohort and across the globe.

Academics

Available Career Fields: human rights, journalism, education, business consulting, entrepreneurship, healthcare, engineering, sustainable development, and others, depending on students’ goals.

Internship Course

The Education Abroad Office cannot approve credit for your internship, however we will facilitate the course equivalency process explained below.

Course Selection

To find out if this internship program is appropriate for you, and if it fits into your degree requirements, you will need to work with your academic adviser.

Suggested tips:
•    Research how many work hours your are required to work to be able to gain academic credit in your department.
•    Meet with your academic adviser or departmental internship adviser to discuss the potential internship course abroad to meet your degree requirements,
•    Keep in mind that for some majors international internships are really hard to incorporate into your academic progress due to the registration timeline, and the number of hours of work you can fulfill.

Before applying and committing, please talk with Education Abroad international internships adviser and your academic adviser or departmental internship adviser to understand the academic requirements you need to fulfill.

To register for the internship courses on this program, or gain internship credits you will work with Connect 123 program coordinator, and with the Education Abroad international internships adviser  on the process of transferring credits.
 

Academic Policies

  • You must enroll in 1 credit  
  • You cannot take any courses abroad on a Pass/Fail basis
  • You may not take sport or physical activity courses (e.g. sailing, bowling, yoga, etc.) abroad
  • If you are studying abroad in your final semester at Penn State, please note that Penn State may not receive your grades in time for graduation 

Course Equivalency Process

In order for courses from abroad to appear on your Penn State transcript, each course must be given a course equivalency. The same is with internship credits. Please visit the Academics section of the Penn State Global website for information on the course equivalency process.  

Because each internship placement is unique, all international internships require an individual course equivalency request. In order to provide a detailed description of your experience, your course equivalency request must include the follow components, formatted into single document (doc./docx./PDF only):
  • Syllabus (if available)
  • A detailed summary of the work you did on the internship
  • Internship location
  • Number of hours worked
  • Language in which the majority of the work was completed
  • Special tasks and projects.

The academic portion of the abroad internship often requires a final paper that covers the required information. It is acceptable to submit this final paper as the summary for the course equivalency request if the required information is included in the paper.

Grade and Credit Conversion Scale

Grades and credit conversions from your host institution cannot be changed. They will be converted to Penn State credits and grades based on the following scales:
 
Grade Conversion Scale
Host Institution Grade Penn State Grade
A A
A- A-
B+ B+
B B
 B- B-
C+ C+
C C
D D
F F
 

Costs and Funding

Program Costs


Summer Costs

The cost of a program is based on Penn State tuition rates and partner institution fees. Education Abroad works closely with our partners to ensure the most accurate cost estimates, however, fees can change quickly and without prior notice. Consult the cost sheets for your chosen program often and if you have any questions please contact your Education Abroad Adviser.

The Education Abroad Office awards a number of grants and scholarships to students who participate in an education abroad program through Penn State Global, even for virtual experiences. The application for the scholarships awarded through the Education Abroad Office is included with your program application. Eligibility is based on academic merit and/or financial need. You must have a current FAFSA on file to be awarded. There are additional scholarship opportunities through our partner universities, Penn State Academic Departments, and other sources. To view a full list of scholarships, eligibility requirements, and deadlines visit Funding Study Abroad.

Student Aid

Penn State students who plan to study on a Penn State approved program can use most forms of financial aid towards the cost of the program. Exceptions include work-study awards and some athletic scholarships. If you have specific questions regarding your aid awards, contact the Penn State Office of Student Aid. 

Withdrawal & Refund Policy 

Withdrawal and refund details are dependent on the timing and reason for your withdrawal from a Penn State Education Abroad Program. For specific details and steps on how to withdraw, read the Education Abroad Policies. 

After Commitment

Once a student has committed to a Penn State Education Abroad program, they are financially responsible for any fees incurred on their behalf. Therefore, if a student plans to withdraw from a program it is their responsibility to immediately notify the Education Abroad office via e-mail.

Regardless of the timing or reason for the withdrawal, the student will be responsible for paying the Education Abroad Administrative Fees. Additional fees from the partner institution will be assessed according to their withdrawal and refund policies at the date of the withdrawal notice.

After the Start of the Program 

If a student withdraws after the start of a program, any adjustment of Penn State tuition charges will be made according to the Tuition Adjustment Schedule as determined by the Office of the Bursar. Students may be responsible for up to 100% of program costs. In most cases, partial credit cannot be awarded for leaving a program before its successful completion.

For additional information on withdrawal policies, separate and apart from financial consequences, please consult the University Senate Policy on Withdrawal and Leave of Absence.
 

Work Abroad Remotely

General Information

A virtual work experience is a good way to access a career field of your choice anywhere in the world from a safety of your home. Our partners, who are work experience providers, have a great network of employers in different fields that are willing to give Penn State students access to their teams. Virtual work is not the same as work abroad, it has some challenges, such as time differences, access to facilities, different work culture and expectations related to the host culture. At the same time, it gives students not only a chance to explore their potential career choice, but also to learn about other cultures, gain new knowledge in their chosen field, grow their professional network, and to make an impact.. While these internships are mostly unpaid, they are rewarding experiences that facilitate professional growth and learning. These programs are offering 'guaranteed' placements if the student meets all the requirements.

Accessibility and Affordability

Having a stable internet connection is key to successful virtual work experience. Any specific tools that you require to do your work, should be supplied by the employer. If , however, you have specific needs when it comes to adaptive technology, please let the Education Abroad international internships adviser know what kind of adaptation you need to be able to access the work tasks, meetings, and to have a meaningful experience.

Virtual internship programs are more affordable.. The costs of these programs can be up to 10 times more affordable than traditional internships abroad. Although you are working from home, it is still a great way to meet future colleagues in your career field, build a network, and potentially get your foot in the door for after graduation.

International Students

It is possible for non-U.S. Citizens to intern abroad through Penn State virtual internships? Absolutely! And - you do not need an additional visa to be able to work in other country. Plus - all other benefits explained above!

Resources

It is important to understand what kind of skills are needed and could be developed by engaging in a virtual work experience. This  experience might not be suitable for all students, but - if you are motivated, open to new working cultures, self-reliant and flexible, and also organized,  with a love of  project based work - this would be a great experience for you.

Career Services has put together very useful guidelines on how to make the most out of a virtual work experience. On top of the guidelines we recommend that students try to be present for all virtual cultural and professional development meetings organized by either your employer or the internship provider. You still can learn about other cultures, and have the critical time to reflect on your work, learning while doing, and honing your own personal and professional goals.
 

Next Steps

Steps to Virtual Internship

First, make sure that the virtual internship will work academically for you. Then explore whether  a virtual work experience is something you would find rewarding. There are some good tips on how to navigate a virtual work experience on Penn State Career Services website.

How to Apply

Click the “Apply Now” button on this page to get started!

Application procedures can vary by program. Students should consult the application instructions available within each application. For more information, see the Application Process section of the Penn State Global website. 

Deadlines

You must apply to this program by the Penn State deadline. For a list of deadlines visit the Application Process page of the Penn State Global website.

Deadline: March 1, 2023

Contact Education Abroad 

If you have general questions about Education Abroad opportunities at Penn State, please email EducationAbroad@psu.edu.

Peer Advisers

Education Abroad Peer Advisers are Penn State study abroad returnees who advise students on education abroad opportunities at Penn State. Each Peer Adviser can explain program options, give an overview of the study abroad process, as well as provide information about their experience abroad. Peer Advisers have walk-in hours in Boucke Building during the fall and spring semester when classes are in session. For more information, visit the Education Abroad Peer Adviser website. 

Education Abroad Advisers 

Education Abroad Advisers can provide information about courses, support services, application processes, housing details, program costs, cultural expectations, pre-departure requirements, and much more. Education Abroad Advisers have two types of meetings - scheduled appointments and walk-ins. For more information about how to meet with an Education Abroad Adviser, please visit the Penn State Global website. 

Social Media

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For information about upcoming events, scholarship opportunities, deadlines, and much more visit the Penn State Global Events Calendar and follow us on social media!
 


Dates / Deadlines:
Dates / Deadlines:
Term Year App Deadline Decision Date Start Date End Date
Summer 2023 03/01/2023
03/11/2023 TBA TBA
Summer 2024 01/24/2024
02/07/2024 TBA TBA

Indicates that deadline has passed