Internationalising Higher Education

This poster will present a case study of international students pre-graduation successfully engaging with companies through internships abroad. The Foundation for International Education (FIE) is a non-profit international education provider facilitating study and intern abroad opportunities to US undergraduates. Approximately 450 international internships are arranged by FIE in London each year. The vast majority of companies taking on interns are small to medium sized, making it possible over the years to examine this relationship of mutual gain and education, and to better understand the benefits to both companies and students. Recent research by FIE's Director of Experiential Education has succeeded in giving a voice to small companies engaged in FIE international exchange and has discovered ways in which a small company can benefit from international student interns. It sheds light on what small companies perceive as the benefits for international students. Research data is accompanied by critical thought and questionnaire feedback from former student interns regarding their experiences, particularly how they feel they contributed to and benefitted as an international intern within a small company in London. This poster will aim to provoke thought and discussion into how the international student is able to successfully contribute to a wide range of industries and organisations.