Dr Ben Fletcher-Watson is Administrative Manager of the Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities (IASH) and has hired and managed student interns for a number of years: “IASH had taken on student interns in the past, mainly for short term projects requiring specific skills such as video editing. We had always been impressed with the quality of work our interns had produced, as well as the number of tasks they managed to achieve during their time with us.”
In 2018, the Institute decided to update their alumni records in time for their 50th anniversary in 2020. With more than 1,200 alumni across the world, it was a huge project: “The task of updating our records and contacting so many former Fellows all over the world was daunting, so in 2018, we decided to take on two undergraduate interns to help.
“Since then, we’ve hosted two more interns each year, working on a variety of projects from the creation of an interactive digital timeline of IASH’s history to the publication of two beautiful books drawn from the Dangerous Women Project. Our association with genderED, and more recently RACE.ED, has deepened over time, and interns now split their time between these networks and IASH.”
Ben cannot recommend the Employ.ed scheme enough: “The whole experience of working with Employ.ed has been a delight. Every year, we are inundated with applications from scores of students – helpfully shortlisted and sifted by the Employ.ed team. It’s a real pleasure to read their applications, showcasing the breadth of skills and experience possessed by our students. The final selection is often very difficult, weighing up some extremely accomplished individuals.
“In my time at IASH, we’ve hosted eight undergraduate interns, each of whom delivered extremely high-quality work in abundance,” he continues. “Even during the 2020 lockdown, our interns worked tirelessly from their home offices, both in the USA, to fulfil their tasks. Some have gone on to further study or work in academia, and others keep in touch to let us know about their burgeoning careers.”
For Ben, the programme is one to take advantage of, whatever your role in the University: “Without question – go for it! I’ve become a real evangelist for the programme, as every single intern we’ve hosted has delivered something unique and special. They always achieve much more than we imagine, exceeding our expectations and inspiring new events, ideas and projects.
“Financially, the return on investment is enormous, and the experience that they gain in return has set many of our students on bright careers,” he continues. “I can’t foresee a summer when we don’t hire interns for IASH.”
You can host an intern for 8 to 12 weeks, on a part-time or full-time basis, perhaps to complete a project that may be on hold, open up your team to new skills, energy and ideas or get a student perspective on a project.
Find out more on the Employ.ed website.
Phtotography: Sam Sills