My virtual internship

BY SIVIWE CINGO

Siviwe Cingo undertook a virtual internship recently, working remotely from South Africa for Education Above All, an organisation based in Doha, Qatar.

What is your area of study?

I am currently a master’s candidate in the University of Cape Town’s BEd programme, specialising in applied linguistics and literacy studies. In addition, I am a recipient of the Mastercard Foundation Scholarship, administered by the UCT. The scholarship requires a student to undergo a six week internship of their choice.

Where did you intern, and what was your role?

I applied at Education Above All (based in Doha) through the African Careers Network (ACN) for an internship offered by the Internet Free Education Resource Bank (IFERB), which is a resource of Education Above all organisation. I was a Student Project Designer and Developer.

For the internship I had to design student-led projects that align with the curriculum. These projects are then used as resources that serve as a remote solution for learning without using the internet. The purpose is for education to be accessed even by a child who is from an underserved context, ensuring learning continuity.

How do you feel the experience differed from a traditional internship?

A virtual internship allows you to work from the comfort of your home or at any place besides the company’s office. There is less pressure, as compared to the traditional internship where you might feel pressured by even the presence of management. One of the greatest benefits of a virtual internship is the flexibility of time. As an intern, you can engage in your tasks at a time that suits you. Virtual internships do not necessarily follow the typical 9 to 5 work schedule encompassed in traditional internships. This then allows you to control your work schedule and complete your activities by order of priority.

I felt that the virtual internship gave me a sense of independence, while also teaching me valuable teamwork skills. I was afforded the opportunity by IFERB to work independently on my own tasks, while working collaboratively on other activities.

Another thing I liked about the virtual internship is that it was cost effective – you do not have to worry about transport money or to buy clothes that fit within the dress code of the company.

How did you connect and build connections through the remote work environment?

One of the limitations of a virtual internship is that it limits you in terms of the number of people you would have likely met had the internship been carried out in its traditional format. During my internship tenure, I was in contact with three people: two supervisors, one from the IFERB and one from African Careers Network, and another intern. We connected through Microsoft Teams, using it to convene meetings and to break away for discussions. We also held presentations (project presentations) and viewed each other's notes and presentation scripts via Teams.

What advice would you give to others starting out in a virtual internship?

As with any successful internship, a prospective intern needs to do research about the company beforehand so they understand its mission and vision. It is vital to be punctual on activities that the intern has been tasked on and be timely to the deadlines and reflections solicited by the supervisor. Further, too much relaxation and a lack of engagement in discussions and online communications will come across as the intern being unprofessional and incompetent.

Lastly, it is important to ask questions and listen attentively, and as far as possible to avoid any disruptions that may disconnect you from online proceedings. Do not take the internship for granted and always bring your A-game. The organisation could possibly be your future employers, or you may need them as a reference.