Supporting Students
Through Internships
Internship programme helps students
make a difference to Scotland’s third sector
W
ITH ALL THE recent controversy surrounding
unpaid interns in sectors such as politics, media
and the arts, it’s reassuring to know that an
innovative collaboration between Scotland’s universities
and third sector organisations is leading the way in offering
fully supported, high quality paid student internships.
In the last year the Third Sector
Third Sector Internships Scotland
Internships Scotland programme has Co-Director Fiona Boyle from
helped over 150 university students QMU said: “The response has been
provide invaluable support to Scotland’s incredible. Students are taking the
charitable and voluntary organisations. initiative to get first class, hands-on
The project has not only provided work experience which can help boost
outstanding work opportunities for their employability and kick-start their
students, it has helped bring fresh career. The third sector organisations
thinking and new skills to Scotland’s are reaping the benefit – a new skills
third sector.
set, a fresh approach and a different
Over 130 community groups, charities, pair of eyes can be just what these
social enterprises and voluntary organisations need to help them improve
organisations across Scotland have service delivery to their communities.”
benefited from this novel scheme. The
programme, which is funded by the
Scottish Funding Council and open to
students at all Scottish universities, has
allowed students to develop their skills and
employability whilst making a meaningful
contribution to a third sector organisation.
Students have taken up posts across
Scotland from Islay to Inverkeithing and
from Dumfries to Dingwall.
She continued: “It’s been very rewarding
to know that employers really value the
interns work and can see considerable
benefits to their organisations. At the same
time, the students are reporting that they
really value the opportunity to gain relevant
experience. Being given real responsibility
and opportunities to develop and apply their
skills can be a major confidence boost.”
For some students it is the first time that
Such is demand from employers and they will have worked in a professional
students that a recently published report environment. Students are exposed to a wide
stated that the project has exceeded its variety of work experiences beginning with a
targets for internships posts. So far, 3600 rigorous recruitment process. Importantly, they
students have applied for 150 advertised have the chance to start a project and see it
posts and a further 100 posts are likely to be through to completion.
made available over the next year.
The recent report ‘Making Internships Work
The unique project, led by QMU, The Open for Scotland’s Students and Third Sector
University in Scotland and the Scottish Organisations’ highlights how the partnership
Council for Voluntary Organisations, has model adopted by the project is delivering real
received high acclaim from charities and benefits.
communities groups. The project is a
TSIS Co-Director Margaret Wallace, from
winning situation for all concerned, with Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations,
students enhancing their employability skills explained: “The success of this project couldn’t
and gaining valuable experience, third sector have come at a better time. With significant cuts
organisations seeing projects completed to to voluntary sector organisations, the internships
exceptionally high standards, and communities project gives a much needed boost to this important
across Scotland reaping the benefits of these sector of society. In turn, the voluntary sector is able
fresh ideas and new talent.
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QMYOU / Student Internships