Aston University Excels with Award-Winning Virtual Internship Programme

Aston University’s virtual internship  programme has won the Future of Talent & Innovation award at the University Industry Innovation Network (UIIN) annual conference in Madrid.

The Work Global Stay Local programme is an integral part of the Aston Global Advantage (AGA) professional development module.

The award, sponsored by ZEISS Group, recognises the collaboration between Aston University and Virtual Internships, which has enabled nearly 400 postgraduate students to gain professional experience globally while completing their degrees locally.

Since its inception in 2018, the Work Global Stay Local programme has offered Aston University students the opportunity to undertake virtual internships in diverse career fields across the world. This innovative model has not only provided first professional experiences to many students, but has also opened doors to career fields that might have otherwise been inaccessible.

Elsa Zenatti-Daniels, postgraduate student development Lead at Aston University, presented the award-winning session titled ‘The creation of multi-organisation, multi-industry collaboration with hundreds of global SMEs‘ alongside Ed Holroyd Pearce, president and co-founder of Virtual Internships.

The session showcased the impactful partnerships that have been established through this programme, emphasising the importance of investing in student upskilling and supporting the growth of SMEs worldwide.

Professor Zoe Radnor, pro vice-chancellor and executive dean of the College of Business and Social Sciences at Aston University, said:

“This initiative highlights Aston University’s commitment to enhancing student employability and bridging the gap between academia and industry.

“The recognition at the University Industry Innovation Network has sparked significant interest from other leading institutions, further solidifying our position as a leader in innovative education and student development.”