Internships & Experiential Learning

 

The Umbra Institute offers academic internships in local schools, nonprofit organizations and businesses. The internship placements are made by the internship coordinator and based on the personal and academic interests of each student. All internship students are required to enroll in the course INIT 350: Academic Internship and Seminar. Students who commit to this internship should keep an open mind, be motivated to learn actively and be flexible.

 

This course has two main components, one experiential and one reflective. The first component, the internship, is a means of gaining practical field-specific experience while building intercultural competence and awareness. The second component is a seminar that provides students with a theoretical framework and develops critical thinking skills through guided journals, reaction papers, and the completion of a final project.

 

Internship Placements

 

Education - Spring Only

Through these seminar and internship components, students have the opportunity to study the theory of both traditional and progressive education and to explore different learning methodologies in the classroom. Student interns conduct conversation groups and assist the English language teachers in classroom activities. Depending on the type of school, interns may be asked to design and conduct workshops for the more advanced students or assist with lessons organized by the teacher. No language requirement. Suitable for Education, Sociology, Anthropology, Linguistics, Psychology and Communications students.

 

“Participating in the seminar offered me a unique opportunity to investigate Italian culture at an in-depth and personal level. It allowed me as an education student to observe Italian pedagogical strategies and methodological choices, and to compare these cross-culturally with practicum work I previously completed in the US.”   Lindsay Paiva, Connecticut College – Academic Internship and Seminar, Spring 2011

 

Psychology Research

Students in this seminar and internship collaborate with an international team of psychology professors from University of Waterloo (Canada), Northwestern University, University of Maryland, Ajou University (Korea), Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Bocconi University, La Sapienza and the two local universities. The research team was started in fall 2007 and fosters interdisciplinary research on a variety of topics that focus on the human motivation system and how that system is informed and transformed by one’s culture. Student interns are actively involved in all aspects of the research process: from the initial design, to subject running, to discussing results and developing ideas to writing findings up for conference submissions and/or peer-reviewed academic journals.

 

The research products are conducted in collaboration with the following institutions:

No language requirement. Students majoring in psychology and any other cognate field will benefit the most from this course. Cognate fields include majors such as Education, Sociology, Anthropology, Philosophy , Linguistics, Computer Science, Neuroscience, Public Health and Economics.

Casa Museo di Palazzo Sorbello – House Museum

The Uguccione Ranieri di Sorbello Foundation is a charitable trust founded in 1994. Its aim is to promote and develop the cultural heritage of the Ranieri di Sorbello family through historical and cultural projects and exhibitions. It holds, among other things, an important family library, an archive and art collections, including prints, drawings, family portraits, embroideries, fabrics and porcelains. Interning at the casa museo is a unique way to learn about the cultural and artistic heritage of Italy, the region of Umbria and of Perugia. The internship also offers the opportunity to familiarize students with the operations and functions of a small but modern museum.

 

Student interns collaborate with the staff in creating promotional materials catered towards English-speaking visitors. They give guided tours of the museum in English and assist the staff in the preparation of exhibitions, conferences, and other cultural events.

 

No language requirement. This internship is of particular interest for students majoring in Art History, Museum Studies, History, Journalism, Communications, and Linguistics.

 

“The time I spent at the Ranieri di Sorbello Foundation was a transformative learning experience. I took concepts from the lecture portion of my Perugia Communities class and applied them to the realities of Italian culture. The project was a bridge between conventional learning and real-world relevance. I learned to put standard lessons into a broader societal context, which helped when I blended my politics, art, and language learning to the contemporary culture I experienced.”   Erin Holweger, University of Denver – Umbra Fall 2009

 

Monimbò Fair Trade Cooperative

In this internship placement, students will be introduced to fair trade in both a global and a local context, explore the social, political, and economic implications of their efforts, and research current initiatives in Italy. Monimbò, a local fair trade cooperative, promotes goods that protect workers’ rights and the environment. Interns assist with store operations and event planning, the monthly fair trade market, local and national public education and awareness campaigns, and marketing projects.

 

Intermediate to advanced Italian required. This internship is best suited for students in Political Science, Sociology, Anthropology, Economics, Communications and International Studies

 

May Internships

The option of taking an internship at the end of the spring semester is offered to students enrolled in the Umbra Institute’s Food Studies Program. The internships are of particular interest for students majoring in Food Studies, Sustainability, and Business and students can choose to participate in an internship at the Lungarotti Winery in Torgiano.

 

The Lungarotti Winery was founded by Giorgio Lungarotti in the 1960s and has risen to the very top of Umbrian wine producers. In addition to making a wide variety of internationally-recognized wines, the Winery has created a foundation which runs two fascinating museums: one for wine, the other for olive oil. Once the intern has gained a broader understanding of the winery and its “identity,” s/he will be asked to collaborate with the staff in creating promotional materials catered towards English-speaking visitors, as well as having the opportunity to give guided tours in English. In addition, interns will help Lungarotti Winery develop a plan for better digital marketing, focusing on search-engine optimization and social media.

 

 

Experiential Learning Course

Studying abroad is a journey. It is an exploration of new people, places, languages and cultures. It is also an opportunity for students to learn more about themselves and where they come from. This course is specifically designed to help students transition into a new culture and community with openness, curiosity and self-awareness. It offers a facilitated space for students not only to share and process their experiences, but also to build and apply new intercultural skills through the integration of theoretical knowledge with cultural activities that engage the local community. The course is based on a student-centered approach to learning that encourages students to become active participants in the community life of Perugia through volunteering and interacting with Italian cultural mentors.

 

Coming Soon (Fall 2012): Intercultural Exploration: Learning through Living Abroad in Italy

No language requirement. Suitable for Education, Sociology, Anthropology, Linguistics, Psychology and Communications students.