The University of Mississippi hosted its first Experiential Learning Week September 12 and 14 on the UM campus. Faculty and students from across campus joined together for seminars, workshops and a resource fair, all providing insights on the importance of experiential learning in today’s world.
“Experiential learning allows students to learn by doing and can help them confirm their strengths and interests,” said Wesley Dickens, associate director of experiential education and partnerships for the School of Business Administration. “This week was dedicated to highlighting the many forms of experiential education, such as internships, study abroad, volunteering, and student leadership in campus organizations, as well as campus resources that support students in gaining this valuable experience.”
To commence the week, the business school brought in Michael True, founder of InternQube.com and an expert in the field of experiential learning, to give faculty members a presentation on the importance of internships for their students’ future success.
“[Faculty] have the ability to impact the lives of students in a very significant way by helping them find and successfully proceed through an internship, and hopefully more than one internship, which will prepare them for the workplace,” True said.
Following the presentation, True hosted a student workshop focused on helping students map the most efficient pathway to their desired postgraduate career. Among the topics covered were resume building, interview preparation, internship conduct, and learned marketing experiences to demonstrate to future employers.
The week culminated with Thursday’s internship showcase, sponsored by the UM Division of Outreach, where students discussed internships with representatives from UM Internship Experience, the UM Career Center, and eight student interns from six different academic units.
The eight student interns, each a senior undergraduate, were chosen by their department for completing an outstanding internship over the summer.
“My internship was exactly what I wanted,” said student intern Alyssa Taylor, a general business major from Panama City, Florida, who plans to work in the oil and gas industry. “I interned for Weatherford International at their headquarters in Houston, Texas. They really allowed me to explore the oil industry and what I could see myself doing in the future.”
Students of all classification attended the showcase, and they greatly appreciated the opportunity to talk internships peer-to-peer.
“It was encouraging to speak with fellow students who have already accomplished so much at their internships,” said Aaron Wyckoff, a sophomore finance major from Plainfield, Illinois. “Right now, it’s early, but I’m already looking to line up internships. I think the classroom can only teach so much, and I believe that getting real work experience will give me a great competitive edge in the job market.”
In a few weeks, the UM Business School will host the All Majors Career and Internship Expo on Wednesday, October 4 from 12:00 -3:00 p.m. in the Student Union Ballroom. CSpire, FedEx, International Paper and Southern Farm Bureau are some of the companies that will participate in the event.