Business and innovation internships in India, Poland, and Korea, for up to 6 students each summer
Internship overview: IC² Institute, a department of The University of Texas at Austin, is sponsoring an internship program in coordination with its programs in India, Poland, and Korea. Students will work part-time at IC² Institute offices for ten weeks (Jun 5 – Aug 11), and will spend two weeks (Aug 12-27) at IC² Institute partner offices in either India, Poland, or Korea. Training and mentoring will be provided by IC² Institute managers. Assignments will be related to assisting innovative businesses access international markets. Interested students should apply for the general internship opportunity and should rank their preferences for being placed in India, Poland, or Korea. Foreign language skills are not required. More information is provided below.
IC² Institute is a research unit of The University of Texas at Austin, focusing on entrepreneurial wealth creation. Its international programs are designed to help various regions around the world prosper through commercialization of innovation and the establishment, sustainability, and growth of innovative new businesses. IC² Institute international managers provide training and assistance to entrepreneurs outside of the US and to organizations supporting entrepreneurs. Additionally, IC² Institute evaluates the impact of its training and assistance and seeks to discover and share information about best practices for economic development through technology commercialization.
Compensation:
June 5 – August 11: Students will be hourly employees of The University of Texas at Austin with the title student associateand an hourly rate between $10 and $15/hour depending on number of years of university work completed (1 year $10/hour; 2-3 years $11/hour; 4 years, $15/hour).
August 12-27: This period of the internship is unpaid. However, the following travel expenses will be covered: Round-trip airfare from Austin to country of placement and return to Austin, in-country transportation (e.g., train, bus) to and from destination city, and hotel accommodations. (For travel to India, the cost of a tourist visa will also be covered. There are no visa expenses for US citizens for travel to Poland or Korea.)
Hours:
June 5 – August 11: Students will work 10 hours each week. A work schedule will be set with each student upon hire. Students will need to work at least 3 days each week and work at least 2 hours each shift. Work must occur between the hours of 8:00 AM and 6:00 PM.
August 12-27: August 12-13 will be travel days. During the period August 14-18, students will work 8 hours/day at partner offices. No work will be expected of students on the weekend of August 19-20. During the period August 21-25, students will work 8 hours/day at partner offices. August 26-27 will be travel days.
Training provided to the interns:
Students will be enrolled, at no cost, in two IC² Institute online courses, Innovation Readiness, and Quicklook® Technology Assessments. As the students take the online courses, during work hours at IC² Institute offices, they will be mentored by IC² Institute managers. The month of June will be primarily taken up with training and mentoring.
Following completion of online training, students will continue to be mentored by IC² Institute managers as they complete assignments.
Job functions:
? Under the supervision of a manager, conduct research into market opportunities for assigned international businesses. Research may include internet searches, calls to potential customers or partners, and organization and compilation of relevant information.
? Under the supervision of a manager, carry out communications with in-region partners and clients.
? Create written reports and briefings.
? Collect data on IC² Institute program impact and/or impact of other interventions. Organize and document data according to instructions from IC² Institute managers.
? While in-country, carry out specific assignments related to that program’s goals. Examples may include working with local businesses on marketing materials, organizing program outreach and communications, interviewing stakeholders, and gathering information on outcomes of programs. Remain in regular communication with IC² Institute managers in Austin.
Notes:
? Selected students will be required to attend an information/preparation session offered by the UT International Office before they begin travel, and will be required to purchase overseas insurance ($19/week) to cover their two-week travel period.
? Selected students will be expected to have and maintain, at their own expense, passports valid for travel.
? Selected students will be expected to work on their own laptop computers while in Austin and while traveling.
? Students who successfully complete the internship may have the option to work part-time at IC² Institute in the fall semester, or to engage in academic/thesis research at IC² Institute.
How to apply:
Interested students should email an up-to-date resume and application letter to
Debra Dzwonczyk
Assistant Director, Global Commercialization Group
IC² Institute, The University of Texas at Austin
The letter should describe the student’s interest in international business and commercialization of innovation and any other relevant career interests. The letter should also describe relevant coursework, studies, or experience. Finally, the letter should note the student’s preference for region assignment (India, Poland, Korea) and note second- and third-choices for region assignment. If a student is unwilling to travel to a particular region, that should also be noted.
Timeline for application and selection process:
February 24: Deadline to email resumes and application letters.
March 6-9: Interviews of applicants. Note: During the interview, each student will be required to produce a writing sample in response to a prompt provided during the interview time.
March 10: Notification to students accepted or wait-listed for the internship.
March 20: Students’ acceptance letters due.