Due to heightened concerns about student health and safety we are immediately suspending internship placements, volunteer work, and service-learning projects in health care facilities at all USAC program sites for the remainder of the Spring 2020 and Summer 2020 academic terms. We will continue to monitor the situation and make a decision regarding the availability of these placements during the Fall 2020 semester in the coming weeks. If you have any questions, please contact the USAC internship team at internship@usac.edu.
Summer Entrepreneurial Development Internship
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The Summer Entrepreneurial Development Internship is a competitive, 6-credit internship offering affiliated with the E.U. Europen-PEN project, a network of 7000 virtual enterprises operating in 46 countries around the world (penworldwide.org).
This 8-week internship placement (requires enrollment in both summer session) provides students, organized into two teams of 6-8 members, with the hands-on experience of creating and managing a virtual enterprise.
During Phase I: New Venture Creation, each team will develop a business model and write a business plan under the guidance and supervision of an experienced instructor and through visits to local business incubators, venture capital firms, successful startups, business parks, and public and private agencies promoting new venture creation. Each team will then present their idea to a board of investors made up of business faculty at the University of the Basque Country (UPV) and local professionals in Bilbao.
During Phase II: Business Operations Practicum, teams will have secured their virtual funding and each member will participate in the management and operation of their virtual firm as an employee with a dedicated area of responsibility. Each enterprise will carry out critical functions of business operations, such as regulatory compliance, product development, market research and developing advertising strategies, purchasing virtual inventory, managing logistics, marketing products or services, managing revenue and expenses, and maintaining financial records.
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Through this experience, each team member will develop real-world competencies in new venture creation, international business operations, professional communications, leadership, public speaking, teamwork, and more.
Application Deadline: March 15th, 2020.
Internships in Bilbao are offered during the semester and yearlong academic terms. Internships are optional and included in your program fees. They range from 1-3 credits and are counted as part of your credit load. Interns earn credit, but no financial compensation. In addition to professional and academic experience, internships are a great way to immerse yourself in the culture, meet locals, and practice your language skills. You will be placed in a Spanish-speaking environment, with high exposure to culture and language, and must be able to communicate at the Track IV level.
Previous internship placements in Bilbao have included:
- Art Gallery
- Primary School
- Business Incubator
- Local High school
- Non-Profit Organizations
- Extracurricular Activities/Tutoring for Disadvantaged Youth
USAC will attempt to place students in a field related to the student’s interest, although placement depends on availability and qualifications. If you are interested in a particular field that is not mentioned above, it is of utmost importance that you contact the USAC office at least three months in advance so that the internship coordinator can attempt to find something that suits you.
Eligibility:
- Minimum 3.0 GPA
- Junior standing (at time of internship)
- Foreign language proficiency (some placements)
A $200 refundable fee is charged and returned upon successful completion of the internship. Placement is not guaranteed by USAC; rather it will be determined by your application, supporting materials, and an interview with the internship sponsor on site.