11-02-2013, 02:27 PM
NGO-CSR Internship Guidelines
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INTRODUCTION
ITM has a high interest in ensuring that quality internships are available for students. ITM provides an Internship Toolkit to help NGOs and students develop an internship framework outlining key responsibilities and learning outcomes.
ITM Centre for Social Initiatives orchestrates the interface with NGOs and provides a platform to the students to create meaningful internship experiences. While internship content, duration, and other factors may vary, it benefits the students and also serves as a good investment of time and resources for the NGO. Internships also help ensure that professional management practices are passed on to future leaders.
PURPOSE OF INTERNSHIPS
An internship that integrates the student as an operating member of a management staff is a critical component of the management education of ITM. The NGO internship provides students with a work experience to give them a realistic exposure to an organizational / bureaucratic environment. This experience should enhance the student's awareness of the internal dynamics of an organization and the values and attitudes of employees toward both their clientele and their administrative superiors. The internship should give students the opportunity to be aware of their obligations as professionals and to be of immense help to the community. The internship is one of the indispensable opportunities that present students with a canvass to apply and test the skills and attitudes developed and discussed in their academic program.
For NGO Guides
Although the intern should handle real work assignments, it should be remembered by all supervisory personnel, both on the job and academic that the major reason for the internship is to provide a holistic learning experience. The internship should be carefully integrated into the student's overall academic program. The internship experience is, first and foremost, an educational experience. Both the faculty internship coordinator and the internship supervisor in the NGO must function as educators in their dealings with the intern. In particular, supervisors should be conscious of their educator role and should assume responsibility for mentoring the intern (i.e., application of theoretical knowledge from the classroom to real world situations, demonstration of how knowledge affects problem-solving, interpersonal interactions, communications, and task achievement).
DURATION AND TIMING
ITM NGO Internship duration has been fixed as two days per week viz., Thursday and Friday. During these two days Interns are expected to work full time with the organization and adhere to the official stated norms for working. Internship is set to commence from 18th October 2012 (Thursday) and shall last upto 21st December 2012 (Friday), giving students an opportunity to plan their work weekly and associate for a longer duration with the organization and the cause.
PLACEMENT
One of the most important components of internships is the nature of the assignment given to the student. The primary responsibility for evaluating the adequacy of the placement of the intern should rest with the academic coordinator, in conjunction with the NGO supervisor.
When a student is placed, there should be a formal understanding among the NGO supervisor, the academic coordinator, and the student, including a clear understanding of the obligations and responsibilities of all parties. While not necessary, we recommend that a brief, formal “agreement” be developed that outlines the responsibilities of the academic unit, the NGO supervisor, and the student.
Intern assignments should involve diverse responsibilities. Management interns should be exposed to a broad range of management problems; given diverse work assignments; expected to perform daily management tasks as well as long-term research and report preparation; required to interact with other professionals inside and outside the organization; given exposure to meetings and processes; and provided opportunities for interaction in professional association activities. Intern assignments should also allow for the use of a variety of communication skills: written memos and reports as well as oral presentations to groups of various size and composition.