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U21 Sustainable Micro-internships

Searching for an accessible, sustainable and international internship experience? Look no further than the Universitas 21 (U21) Micro-Internships. Every year, U21 offers a series of free, online, international internship opportunities for sustainability-minded students at its member institutions around the world. As a University of Maryland student, you are eligible to participate! 


Program Details

U21 Sustainable Micro-internships allow you to work with your fellow students from across the globe and to share knowledge and expertise with them while immersing yourself in an international NGO or a commercial organization. Not only will you form quick partnerships with sustainability-minded students around the world, but you will also challenge your abilities while developing key skills enabling you to thrive in the modern workplace.

This exclusive, free, opportunity is only available to students at U21 member universities and is open to students of all disciplines and levels.

Throughout the program participants will engage with and learn from students across the globe spanning 21 countries and 19 time zones.

Micro-Internships Timeline cycle. Day 1: Receive brief, conduct research, and prepare questions. Day 4: First Live session. Meet the host, ask questions, and meet your group. Then, the group work to prepare a solution presentation. Day 10: Final Live session: Final preparation, presentation to host, and receive feedback. Day 14: Submit final reflection.

Over the two-week program, you will be presented with an ongoing sustainability challenge from your host employer, work in groups to innovate a solution and develop plans to communicate it to the senior stakeholders. The internships involve two 2.5-hour live online synchronous sessions at the start and end of the 2-week program, with the rest of the project work undertaken online asynchronously.

Each two-week micro-internship has a distinct SDG Focus and will run at different times to allow you to participate around your academic and other commitments. 

As a result of the program, you will develop: 

  • Agility – your ability to adapt to new environments, to grasp topics outside of your academic field and work with difference. 
  • International Collaboration – first-hand experience of working across different time zones, languages and cultures, bringing together global knowledge to deliver results for an employer. 
  • Influence – your ability to build trust and solve complex problems quickly.
  • Presentation Skills - your ability to clear convey complex information to your stakeholders. 
  • Teamwork -your ability to work with a new and globally diverse team to deliver a solution. 

Successful completion of the program and all activities will earn you the Leading Change micro-credential which you can display on your LinkedIn profile, demonstrating that you have developed the skills to tackle complex global issues and stand up as a leader.

Find out more about the U21 Sustainable Micro-internships Program

Upcoming Opportunities

 

Micro-Internship 1 - Reduced inequalities

Friday, November 29, 2024 - Friday, December 13, 2024

Compulsory live sessions: Tuesday, December 3, 2024 and Thursday December 12, 2024 - 05.00 - 07.30 GMT

(Tuesday, December 3, 2024 and Thursday December 12, 2024 - 12:00am - 2:30am EST)

 

Micro-Internship 2 - Reduced inequalities 

Friday, November 29, 2024 - Friday, December 13, 2024

Compulsory live sessions: Tuesday, December 3, 2024 and Thursday, December 12, 2024 - 14.00 - 16.30 GMT

(Tuesday, December 3, 2024 and Thursday December 12, 2024 - 9:00 am - 11:30 am EST)

 

Micro-Internship 3 - Decent work and economic growth

Friday, January 10 - Friday, January 24, 2025

Compulsory live sessions: Tuesday, January 14, 2025 and Thursday, January 23, 2025 - 05.00 - 07.30 GMT

(Tuesday, January 14, 2025 and Thursday, January 23, 2025 - 12:00 am - 2:30 am EST)

 

Micro-Internship 4 - Decent work and economic growth

Friday, January 10 - Friday, January 24, 2025

Compulsory live sessions: Tuesday January 14, 2025 and Thursday, January 23, 2025 - 14.00 - 16.30 GMT

(Tuesday January 14, 2025 and Thursday, January 23, 2025 - 9:00 am - 11:30 am EST)

 

Micro-Internship 5 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Friday, January 24 - Friday, February 14, 2025

Compulsory live sessions: Tuesday, February 4, 2025 and Thursday, February 13, 2025 - 05.00 - 7.30 GMT

(Tuesday, February 4, 2025 and Thursday, February 13, 2025 - 12:00 am - 2:30 am EST)

 

Micro-Internship 6 - Peace, justice and strong institutions

Friday, January 31 - Friday, February 14, 2025

Compulsory live sessions: Tuesday, February 4, 2025 and Thursday, February 13, 2025 - 14.00 - 16.30 GMT

(Tuesday, February 4, 2025 and Thursday, February 13, 2025 - 9:00 am - 11:30 am EST)

 


Learn more about U21 Sustainable Micro-internships

Learn more about U21 at Maryland

Universitas21 Network

Questions & Contact Information

For general questions, please contact the Global Learning Initiatives team at info-gli@umd.edu.

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