GlobalWorks Internship Program provides the best of both worlds: work experience + cultural immersion

The UO GlobalWorks Internship Program launched in 2015, sending 15 students to China and Japan in the summer of 2016. 

“The program was very unique,” explains Yifang Zhang, Senior Associate Director. “Participants in the GlobalWorks Internship program would get the cultural immersion of study abroad, along with the professional development opportunities of an internship.” 

As more students heard about the opportunity to build their professional skill set in an international setting, the program’s popularity grew. 

“Even with the pandemic, we continued to grow,” said Zhang. “We started with 15 students seven years ago, during the three years of Covid we switched to remote internships and then this past academic year we had our highest enrollment number with 184 students.” 

The program has also continued to add locations, and now offers internship opportunities in over 25 locations around the world including Barcelona, Madrid, Buenos Ares, London, Tokyo, Singapore, Seoul, Ho Chi Mihn, Bangkok, London, Dublin, Mumbai, and more. 

Zhang noted that some majors were attracted to certain locales for their business culture and industry. 

Japan was a popular choice for art, fashion, marketing, and business development students. 

“Many students grew up with Japanese manga, and the architecture, fashion, and business culture are very appealing to PR, marketing, entrepreneurs but also to art and architecture students.” 

She also noted they are currently working with a Lundquist School of Business school alum to develop a paid internship program in Singapore . This kind of partnership is another way that UO alumni can support the GlobalWorks program, Zhang commented. 

Zhang oversees the program with one other full time staff person and support from Global Studies. The process is rigorous, ensuring that students are up to the challenge of working abroad – while ensuring there is still an academic framework to keep the experience in an academic context. 

Students choose from a list of programs and locations submit an application, and if selected conduct a series of thorough interviews. “We review that they are a good match for things like the challenge of the work, the culture, but also the consequences of a real world work experience,” explains Zhang. Once accepted students are connected with a local provider who places the student in an individualized role. There is also on-the-ground support for everything from airport pick-ups to housing.

Zhang stressed that in addition to the professional development, GlobalWorks is an academic program. Students earn academic credits and follow a curriculum that includes weekly reading assignments and reports. 

Zhang, who develops these curriculums and reviews student work noted “being abroad doesn’t guarantee learning, reflection and structure to create opportunities to connect their work to future job interviews helps them connect what they have learned with their future career.” Zhang also noted the Freeman Scholarship for students working in Southeastern Asian countries. 

“This was actually our first grant for students,” Zhang says. “ – had this grant for many years. “Our first group of 15 students were Freeman recipients.” 

Looking ahead, Zhang notes that she is excited to continue growing the program and, especially, looking for ways to expand student access to the Freeman fund opportunities. 

“There is room to grow,” she said. “We are looking into starting a program in Melbourne next year.” 

One need Zhang reiterated was that for donors and alumni with a connection with employers (or the ability to provide funding or internship opportunities are encouraged to connect. 

“The demand for this experience – the double shock of another culture and a real-world work experience, has become more popular with students, advisors, and teachers,” Zhang noted. “I think as there is more focus on career preparedness, we will see more students seeking this opportunity.”

Eliza Black (’25, Computer Science), who worked at an JOB internship in Barcelon the summer between her Freshman and Junior year found the experience to be one of the most formative of her college experience, so far. “It was an incredible experience and great way to become more independent. My time in Barcelona showed me I was able to—I already had the tools—but showed me I could navigate the city and public transportation. Big cities always felt scary. It made me prioritize my quality of life over my career goals for the first time; while the primary purpose of the program had been to work, the most important part ended up being the ability to navigate a large city on my own and practice more independence than I had ever previously had.

When asked why this kind of experience was beneficial to students Eliza noted: “Practicing independence! As well as learning what's out there for them after college; people don't have to go down the practiced life path or career path. It gave me the confidence to live abroad in the future and take risks, like the risk I took by signing up for the program.”