An Evaluation of the Sustainability Internship Program at the College of Charleston
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Haslinger, Sarah
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Abstract
While both academic and practitioner sustainability programs, such as student internships, are commonly utilized across colleges and universities to help increase student engagement and elicit more interest in understanding sustainability science, little research exists on how these programs may affect individuals’ post-graduation. While some organizations have collected and analyzed data regarding programs and perceived impact, few case studies have delved deeper into the true impact of programs, such as internships related to sustainability, on student development. By examining data about participants in an internship program and surveying “where are they now”, this project explores the strengths and weaknesses of the sustainability internship program at the College of Charleston, identifying key skills and experiences. This study also looks at how the program impacted students after graduation. The survey results show that the internship increased students’ confidence, sense of belonging, and engagement. The internship provided students with ample opportunities and skills to prepare them for life after graduating. Students went on to pursue a variety of career paths and demonstrated abilities to apply sustainability concepts to many different jobs and organizations.