Innovation Incubator's Micro-Internship Program Celebrates First-Year Gains
Cal Poly Pomona’s Micro-Internship program, in its first year, saw a surge in participants and bested its enrollment goal.
According to the Micro-Internship team, there has been an increase in student participation and an expansion in corporate partnerships. About 623 students participated in fall 2023 and spring 2024, which is a 160 percent increase from December 2023 to February 2024, according to preliminary data. This surpasses the first year's goal of serving 500 students.
Spring 2024 semester is on track to have about 570 student participants, drawing from 30 upper division (junior and senior level) courses.
Led by Innovation Incubator, the program offers students invaluable brief work experiences that complement their academic pursuits and part-time jobs. This program also paves the way for a seamless integration of professional experiences and academics, laying down a flexible yet significant route for students to gear up for their careers.
I'm overjoyed to report that we've not only achieved but surpassed our goals for the initial year, laying the robust groundwork for the journey ahead,” said Jesus Bermudez, Micro-Internship program manager. “Our vision now is to deepen our impact by expanding our offerings. We are dedicated to extending our reach and presenting an enriched array of Micro-Internship opportunities to an expanded student demographic. Our mission remains steadfast — to eliminate barriers, promote inclusivity, and unlock opportunities for a broader range of aspiring professionals to acquire crucial hands-on experience.”
The paid, short-term assignments range from 20 to 40 hours. Tasks are designed to accommodate the hectic lives of students and tackle the challenges of making sure that career-preparedness opportunities are accessible to all.
Students have the opportunity to apply classroom theories to real-world scenarios, embark on significant projects and curate a professional portfolio that highlights their talents to prospective employers.
The sustained growth and focus on student learning outcomes underscore the program's evolving nature. The expected increase in student participation and corporate partnerships offer a chance to amplify the program's reach, enabling students to acquire vital hands-on experience, develop key skills, and contribute meaningfully to their communities and industries.
For more information on Micro-Internships, visit Innovation Incubator's website or email innovationinc@cpp.edu.