Demonstrations
PATHWAY: A TOOL FOR SUPPORTING AND FACILITATING INTERNATIONAL INTERNSHIPS AT-A-DISTANCE Wim Van Petegem, Mariet Vriens, Roman Verraest, KU Leuven, Belgium
Introduction In this session we would like to demonstrate the Pathway platform (pathway.sekoialearn.com). This platform is one of the main results of the PROVIP project (www.provip.eu), a two-year project funded by the Lifelong Learning Programme of the European Commission. It is an innovative tool for supporting and facilitating international internships at-a-distance. The PROVIP project builds on the results of a previous European project: EU-VIP (www.euvip.eu). This project looked into the conditions for success when implementing virtual mobility in international internships. Virtual mobility is hereby defined as “a set of ICT supported activities that realize or facilitate international, collaborative experiences in a context of teaching and/or learning”. From a time perspective, we can distinguish three different phases in setting up and undertaking an (international) internship: before, during and after. In each of these phases one or more of the three different stakeholders (student, study programme and company) are involved and virtual mobility activities can help to enable an optimal interaction between the different stakeholders. A successful implementation of virtual mobility in international internships is not self-evident. Especially in case of fully virtual internships there are a lot of aspects and conditions to consider beforehand. Some of the main conditions for success identified through the EU-VIP project where: • clear agreements beforehand about goals and roles; • following an established communication protocol; • avoid a strict one-on-one setting; • good student follow-up in order to avoid isolation. Based on these findings the PROVIP project developed the Pathway platform. This tool is currently in its launch phase and is being tested by students, study programmes and companies in the field of marketing and ICT.
The Pathway tool: features and workflow The Pathway platform aims to support the virtual internship process during the three different phases (before, during and after) and involves the three different stakeholder groups during this entire process. The main features of the platform are: • it supports matchmaking between students and companies; • it supports the creation of an internship charter; • it enables a close follow-up of interns from a distance; • it supports online communication and collaboration; • it provides just-in-time guidelines and advice about the organization of virtual internships. During the demonstration of the tool we will guide participants through the workflow that was conceptualized in order to optimize the organization of a virtual internship. Participants will be asked to share their insights, ideas and reflections.
Relevance to the conference scope International internships are becoming more and more important in our globalized world. Due to an increased economic connectivity and integration we experience a constant mobility of people, goods, capital and ideas in the world around us. It is of paramount importance that the future work force possesses the right intercultural and digital skills to deal with the opportunities of this global economy. Internships are an important way of exposing students to complex work problems that require analytical, technical and soft skills. The play an essential role in helping graduates obtain the competencies and skills that are required in our current professional world. The European 2020 strategy considers stronger links between universities and businesses to be essential for Europe to be able to evolve into a true knowledge based economy.
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