Virtual Internships

Virtual Internships in Dakar —

  1. Program Details

    Virtual Internships in Dakar is a four-credit internship opportunity. It’s critical to learn to adapt, acclimate, discover new ways to contribute, and be productive working remotely. Virtual internships combined with the internship course give you an opportunity to learn and develop valuable skills.

    Location Dakar, Senegal
    Term Fall Semester, Spring Semester, Summer Session
    Credit Type Resident Credit
    Sponsor Learning Abroad Center

    Program Eligibility

    GPA 2.5
    Student Type UofM Students, Non UofM Students
    Student Year Sophomores, Juniors, Seniors

  2. About Virtual Internships in Dakar

    The Virtual Internship in Dakar program is a four-credit internship opportunity. Virtual internships combined with the internship course give you an opportunity to learn and develop valuable skills.

    You’ll work on projects from the US for an international organization while adding a global perspective to your professional work experience. You’ll apply your in-class knowledge to real-world meaningful work, gain experience working remotely, expand your skill base, earn four credits from coursework, and maximize your time.

    While we’ll try to place you in your preferred location, keep in mind that our top consideration is making an appropriate match to your skills, experience, and internship goals.

    For more information, refer to our Frequently Asked Questions.

    Learning Outcomes

    At the conclusion of this course, students will be able to:

    • Communicate and navigate effectively in a global, virtual environment
    • Gain culture specific knowledge of work placement country
    • Understand your own values, skills, and behaviors and how different values and communication styles may impact workplace dynamics; develop strategies for adapting to these differences
    • Identify and articulate skills and experiences necessary to reach future career goals; develop learning objectives for the virtual internship site that will help you move toward these career aspirations
    • Conduct your work during the internship utilizing best practices around professional behavior within a virtual work environment
    • Understand and practice tolerance of different cultural assumptions
    • Use a comparative framework in essays and dialogue with fellow students to examine cultural and professional aspects of work and how COVID-19 has impacted these environments
    • Research and analyze the placement country’s workplace, particularly in terms of social media and online presence, including language, norms, values, economic assumptions and compare this to virtual environment to the US

    About the Learning Abroad Center

    Learning Abroad Center programs are:

    • Affordable: our programs are cost effective.
    • Academically strong: many programs have strong University of Minnesota departmental support and offer pre-approved courses for many majors.
    • Culturally rich: regardless of the program you choose, you will have the opportunity to immerse yourself in the local culture.
    • Expertly managed: our staff in Minnesota and abroad are trained professionals and are always available to answer your questions from extensive pre-departure advising and online orientations to reentry programming. Your safety and well-being are paramount, and we work hard to ensure you have a rewarding and safe experience abroad.

  3. Program Structure

    Program Level 3000-level course
    Courseload

    One 4-credit virtual internship course as well as 12–20 hours per week at your internship placement.

    The course will be offered in English or French.

    Course Schedule

    Spring 2021

    January 25: Virtual Internship course begins
    February 1: Virtual Internship placement begins
    May 3: Virtual internship course and placement ends

    The class will meet synchronously six times throughout the semester. Our expectation is that you are able to make it to all synchronous sessions, and do not have another course that has conflicting class times. For this reason, there are two different options for class times, outlined below. You will choose either the Monday/Wednesday option or the Tuesday/Thursday option.  Please note that the French section will be taught during the Monday/Wednesday time.

    • Mondays and Wednesdays, 9–10 a.m.: January 25 and 27, March 15 and 17, April 26 and 28
    • Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8–9 a.m.: January 26 and 28, March 16 and 18, April 27 and 29

    Fall 2020

    September 21: Virtual internship course begins
    September 28: Virtual internship placement begins
    December 16: Virtual internship course and placement ends

    The class will meet synchronously three times throughout the semester. The schedule of those classes is:

    • September 21 at 10–11 a.m.
    • November 2 at 10–11 a.m.
    • December 11 at 10-11 a.m.

    Coursework

    The 4-credit virtual internship course will consist of lectures, small-group discussions, readings, posting to prompts, blogs, essays, a mock interview, and a presentation. Along with the class, you’ll be assigned projects for 12–20 hours per week at your internship placement. The course will help you apply in-class knowledge to your work and understand your newly developed professional skills to articulate in professional situations.

    The course will be offered in English and French. The French taught section of the Virtual International Internship course, along with a French internship placement, may be applied to French major or minor degree requirements. Consult with the French Director of Undergraduate Studies for approval.

    Virtual Internship Syllabus (PDF)

    Internship Placements

    Industry French English
    Art History X  
    Art Management X  
    Business X X
    Communications X  
    Computer Science X  
    Creative Media X X
    Data Analytics X  
    Education X  
    Environmental/Sustainability X  
    Fashion X X
    Fundraising Philanthropy X X
    Government/Politics X  
    Graphic Design X X
    Human Rights X X
    International Relations X  
    Journalism X  
    Marketing X X
    Nonprofit X X
    Publishing X  
    Research X X
    Social Media X  
    Video Editing and Animation X X
    Web Design X X

    Sample Placements

    Internships placements are available in a variety of fields and industries. Our partner in Dakar maintains a network of onsite contacts and will work to place you with an internship suited to your skills, experience and goals for the internship. Internships are available in French and English. You will find a list of the industries within our partner’s network and the languages possible.

     

    Sexual and Reproductive Health Advocacy Intern

    Description: Work for a nonprofit that uses a digital platform to amplify the voices of youth on issues related to exclusion, gender, sexual and reproductive health. Assist with social media community management, website editing, and research efforts. 

    Internship Industries: Communications, Nonprofit, Research, Social Media

    Language Requirement: Prerequisite: FREN 1004 or equivalent - internship communication will be conducted in French.

     

    Human Rights Advocacy Intern

    Description: Assist a nonprofit organization that promotes, defends, and protects human rights in Senegal and in Africa by ensuring respect for life and human dignity. This organization promotes the full exercise of citizenship, including the effective equality of rights between citizens, contributing to the emergence and consolidation of the Rule of the Law and Democracy in Africa. Assist with research and advocacy work in rights, governance, migration and protection.

    Internship Industries: Communications, Government/Politics, Nonprofit, Research

    Language Requirement: Prerequisite: FREN 1004 or equivalent - internship communication will be conducted in French.

     

    Renewable Energy Marketing Intern

    Description: Work for a social enterprise that offers a range of products based on solar energy, providing access to electricity, lighting, and running water. This organization has designed products specially designed for remote areas that do not have access to the electricity grid. Assist with digital communication, marketing strategies, research, and project management. 

    Internship Industries: Business, Communications, Marketing, Research

    Language Requirement: Prerequisite: FREN 1004 or equivalent - internship communication will be conducted in French.

     

    Marketing and Audiovisual Production Internship

    Description: Grow is a social and international shop that specializes in sustainability, advertising video production storytelling, film projects, and digital optimization through development of technological applications. Assist with strategizing, marketing, and technology needs. Help draft financing files, implement their business model and plan, develop web and mobile apps, implement digital solutions, create audiovisual content, and film production.

    Internship Industries: Business, Communications, Creative Media, Environment/Sustainability, Marketing, Nonprofit

    Language Requirement: Internship could be conducted in either English or French. If French, students should have completed Prerequisite: FREN 1004 or equivalent.

     

    Entrepreneurship and Technology Training Internship

    Description: The Grow Academy is a social enterprise that transforms young girls age 15-25 who are out of school and marginalized into confident and preserving micro-technology professionals. Help design both technology and entrepreneurship curriculum for young women from lower secondary schools, train in soft skills and micro technology.

    Internship Industries: Business, Communications, Creative Media, Education, Nonprofit

    Language Requirement: Internship could be conducted in either English or French. If French, students should have completed Prerequisite: FREN 1004 or equivalent.

  4. Dates & Deadlines

    Submit the online application and complete the assigned application checklist according to the appropriate deadline:
    Program Term App Open Date Deadline*
    Fall 2021 Apr 15 Jun 1
    Virtual Internship Course Begins TBD
    Virtual Internship Placement Begins TBD
    Course and Placement Ends TBD
    Spring 2021 Oct 5 Nov 15
    Virtual Internship course begins Jan 25
    Virtual Internship placement begins Feb 1
    Course & placement ends May 3
    Summer 2021 Feb 15 Apr 1
    Virtual Internship course begins Jun 1
    Virtual Internship placement begins Jun 7
    Virtual Internship course & placement end Jul 30

  5. Fees for Virtual Internships in Dakar

    UofM Students

    Semester

    The tuition rate for this 4-credit course is the same as other undergraduate UMTC courses and will be billed to your UofM student account.  If you are already taking 13 credits during fall or spring semester, you can add the virtual international internship course at no additional cost. Visit Onestop for additional information about tuition costs.

    Summer

    The tuition rate for this 4-credit course is the same as other undergraduate UMTC courses and will be billed to your UofM student account.  Visit Onestop for additional information about tuition costs.

    Non-UofM Students

    Semester

    Virtual International Internships are not available to non-UofM students during fall or spring semester.

    Summer

    Non-UofM students will pay a program fee in lieu of tuition. The exact fee is forthcoming, but the cost for this 4-credit course will be approximately $2,050.

    Cancellation Policy

    The regular Learning Abroad Center cancellation and refund policy does not apply to this course. If you decide to cancel your participation in the course after confirming your participation, the Learning Abroad Center will bill your University of Minnesota student account for non-recoverable costs incurred to secure an internship placement on your behalf. In addition to any tuition refund processed per Onestop policies, if you cancel before the course start date, you will be billed $400. If you cancel after the course start date, you will be billed $600.
  6. Center Name TC Learning Abroad Ctr
    Country Senegal

    Submit

    Applications are closed for spring semester 2021. Applications for summer 2021 will open in early 2021. Non-UofM students are only eligible to apply for the summer 2021 programs.

    If you would like to apply after the deadline has passed, email lac-virtualintern@umn.edu with your preferred industries and we will determine if a placement is still available.

    Complete

    After completing the above application, which includes submitting a cover letter and resume, your application will be reviewed.

    Next Steps

    After the above application is complete, your application is reviewed by our program team. You will be notified of an acceptance decision by email. After the initial application submission, you may need to submit additional application materials with our onsite partners. This could include a letter of recommendation, transcript, and/or a cover letter and resume in the language of your host city/country. You may also be asked to conduct interviews with potential internship placements.

    Notification of placement for internships in Dakar will be made two to four weeks after the application deadline. 

    If accepted, you will be assigned a confirmation checklist, which you will complete to confirm your participation in the program. If you decide not to continue with the application process, log into the online application system and submit a Cancel Request.

    Register for On Campus Course

    Once you are confirmed in the program, the Learning Abroad Center will register you in the 4-credit Virtual Internship course. No other action is needed from you to register for the course. You will not be able to withdraw from this course on your own, you will need to contact the Learning Abroad Center.

  7. Program Contact

    We encourage you to reach out early in the process if you have questions about available placements, so that our advisers can help guide you to the location that works best for your skills, experience, and internship goals.

    For further information or questions about this program, send an email to

    Ashley Metz or call at 612.626.6380.