OPIT online gives students the substantive overseas professional experience and intercultural skills demanded by today's global market. English-language internships are available in a wide range of fields, including business, humanities, social sciences, innovation, and STEM disciplines.

About The Program

American Councils is pleased to offer its Overseas Professional and Intercultural Training (OPIT) summer 2021 program by way of distance learning. For a period of eight weeks, participants will complete individual remote assignments and meet virtually at least once a week with a representative of their internship host and American Councils staff in order to gain professional experience in an international setting. The program is designed to advance participants’ critical thinking, intercultural communication skills, and global understanding through reflection, journal writing and feedback sessions.

Academic Credit

Upon successful completion of the online program, participants will receive full academic credit equivalent to 4 undergraduate credit hours or 5 graduate credit hours from Bryn Mawr College for the following two courses:

EURA 257 / Intercultural Communication (1.0 Unit*) – for undergraduate student
EURA 557 / Intercultural Communication (1.0 Unit*) – for graduate students

EURA 425 / Global Internship Experience (no credit)

*One Bryn Maw unit is equivalent to four undergraduate or five graduate semester hours.

Internship Overview

The internship may include any of the following tasks and activities:

• conducting independent research online on a particular topic as assigned by the internship host

• summarizing information from a variety of online sources

• creating or contributing to social media postings such us websites, Facebook, Instagram, etc.

• reviewing and/or proofreading materials in English such as reports, messages, promotional materials, announcements, etc.

• communicating with professionals from a different business culture

• other duties as assigned.

Participants can expect to spend approximately 20 to 25 hours per week on assigned internship tasks. In addition, participants will be required to complete weekly journal entries and attend weekly meetings with American Councils staff to reflect on their experience and professional development.

Locations

Participants can engage virtually with internships based in Moscow, Russia, and Tbilisi, Georgia.

Optional Language Instruction

Participants interested in supplementing their internship experience with language study have the opportunity to attend up to 10 hours of virtual language instruction for an additional fee.

Financial Aid

American Councils has several scholarships available for students applying to the OPIT Summer 2021 Online program. Applicants can apply for financial aid in the program application. Learn more about financial aid available on this program.

Program Snapshot

Program Focus

Intercultural communication skills, professional working experience

Program Format

Online

Program Dates

Summer 2021:
June 14 - August 6, 2021

Program Cost

Summer 2021: $1,500

Applications Deadline

May 30, 2021

Eligibility / Prerequisites

• Open to undergraduates, graduate students, and working professionals

• No foreign language skills required

• Minimum GPA of 2.7

• Applicants must be at least 18 years old by the application deadline