2014 Global Internship Conference in Toronto

The Global Internship Conference (GIC) is a forum dedicated to advancing the knowledge of academic work placement and experiential education. At this time proposals are welcome for those wishing to present at the 2014 GIC.

The scope of this conference includes, but is not limited to, professionals and researchers who work in the field or seek to learn more about internships, academic work placement, co-operative education, teaching, and volunteering. As a platform for dialogue, and vehicle for action, the Global Internship Conference brings together colleagues to discuss and advance best practices as well as develop and examine a research agenda for global internships. The 2014 conference will be held in Canada, a country with a long-standing history of, and significant contributions in, co-op education with work placements designed into the curriculum.  The theme of this year’s conference is "Internships, Co-op, Experiential Education – Where Next?"  

Your session proposals should address a wide range of topics, particularly presentations that leverage a comparative approach from a national perspective that draw on the Canadian sector’s experience.  Additionally, proposals should explore one or more of the possible theme and topics below: 

Research: Presentations are informed by the literature and/or offer original recent results demonstrated by analysis, theoretical development, or experimentation.  Examples include dissemination of employer perception studies, application of student development theories, or analysis of learning outcomes. 

Best Practices: Presentations demonstrate elements of comprehensive experiential education programs and assess examples of best practices in action.  Examples include risk management, academic integration, employer development, or placement evaluation. 

Country/Region: Presentations examine unique elements of a country or region. Examples include employer expectations, visa paperwork, cultural preparation, industry areas, or expanding to under-served areas. 

Special Topics: Presentations explore current issues or trends in academic work placement and experiential education. Examples include exploring virtual internships, developing multi-disciplinary program standards, working with nursing students, or incorporating social networks into experiential education.