Building on our successful pivot to online learning, we’re excited to announce our plans to offer virtual apprenticeships and welcome indications of interest from employer partners and students.

As we navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, we continue to look for ways to support our community and fulfill our mission of educating leaders for careers of the future. We recognize that the workplace — and its specifications — is changing, and fast. Remote work has become the new normal as companies across the globe (like Google, Microsoft and Twitter) welcome virtual interns, recognizing the value and opportunities that virtual collaboration can provide.

At Davis College and Akilah, internships play a crucial part in preparing our students for their careers. We’re proud of our successful track record, having worked with more than 100 companies around the world to design on-site internship opportunities where our students apply the skills and knowledge gained in the classroom to solve real-world problems. Yet as we confront the realities of COVID-19, we recognize that local, on-site internships may not be feasible or even safe. Accordingly, we are encouraging our employer partners and students alike to consider this alternative.

For employers, the value lies in increasing recruitment pipelines, and having access to a wider, more inclusive, globally-based talent pool. For students, virtual internships open the door to vast networking opportunities across global organizations.

The Davis College and Akilah Virtual Apprenticeship program is being intentionally designed to develop the following market-relevant capabilities:

• Digital skills and internet literacy

• High-level motivation and organization skills

• Time management and the ability to prioritize tasks

• Effectiveness when working across time-zones and on different communication platforms

Employer partners who have already committed to providing Virtual Apprenticeships to our students include RPK Group, Katie Kime, Women Igniting Change, Marketing in Africa, Inkomoko, and AP Campaigns.

Set to launch this summer, the program promises to provide valuable opportunities for all involved; preparing students for 21st century careers and connecting employers with tomorrow’s leaders.

For more information or to express your interest in participating as either an employer partner or student, please contact Therese Webb, Chief of Staff, Davis College at therese@daviscollege.com or our Careers Team at careers@akilahinstitute.org.