Linked Internships: UofMN to Florence

Linked Internships: UofMN to Florence program is a four-credit internship opportunity that links a virtual internship with an on-site internship. Work culture around the world is changing and this program will give you the opportunity to learn and develop practical and valuable skills through an internship experience in the virtual world during the spring semester and then in-person in Florence in May.

You’ll begin the experience by working on projects from the US for an organization in Florence. In May, you will then travel to Florence and meet your supervisor and other colleagues in-person, and continue to develop your skills and relationships by interning with them in-person for three weeks. This program will add a global perspective to your professional work experience. 

Online to In Person 

An internship experience in the virtual world during the spring semester and then in-person in Florence in May.

Spring to May Term 

Degree seeking student - alumni in workforce 

You will be housed with other study abroad students on the program. You will live in a furnished student apartment with shared bedrooms and will be responsible for your own meals.

A walking tour of Florence, a visit to local businesses, and an excursion outside of Florence will add cultural context to your internship experience. 

The Learning Abroad Center works with Village Travel, a local travel agency, to arrange a coordinated flight for program participants. The flight is optional, and is arranged for those who want to fly with other program participants. Group flight information is typically available by the program application deadline, if not before.

If you take the group flight, or are able to arrive before the group flight and wait, our staff will meet you at the airport and bring you to your housing at no added cost. If you do not take the group flight, you will need to make your own way to the ACCENT center upon arrival. Specific arrival instructions will be sent out prior to your departure.

For immigration purposes, you should purchase a round-trip ticket, since you must be able to show your entry and exit dates from Italy.

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

On-site support is provided by ACCENT International. Students have access to a computer lab and study space. ACCENT on-site staff provide information to students regarding cultural activities as well as ensuring 24-hour emergency support. ACCENT provides housing, classrooms and study areas, as well as on-site orientation, program excursions and social and cultural events. 

May 2023 Cost of Participation

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. In addition to tuition, you will also be billed a $600 placement fee associated with the course. If you are already taking 13 credits during spring semester, you can add the virtual international internship course at no additional tuition costs, but will be billed the additional cost of the $600 placement fee. Visit Onestop for additional information about tuition costs. If you are registered for less than 13-credits you will be charged tuition for this course in addition to the program fee.  Notify the Learning Abroad Center if this applies to you.

In addition to the tuition, you will be charged a program fee for the May term on-site portion of the program. This will include on-site support, housing, international health insurance, and a few local excursions. You must also budget for a flight, passport and passport photos, meals, spending money, and other miscellaneous living expenses.

After you submit your application, you will receive an email notification confirming that your application was received. Submitted applications are assigned an application checklist, which will include the following items:

• Cover Letter
• Resume

Detailed descriptions and instructions for submitting each checklist item are included on the application checklist assigned to you.