Co-Op Abroad in Italy

 

The Umbra Institute is pleased to offer Cooperative Education Opportunities (Co-Ops) with local community partners to students from North American colleges and universities.  These full-time, compensated internships have been developed as part of Umbra’s commitment to community engagement and active learning. Our local community partners and Co-Op employers range from large hotels, restaurants, a leading global engineering firm, libraries, museums, local city administration, a regional online media outlet, and the Umbra Institute itself.

 

 

Who should apply?

Students from all majors and academic backgrounds are welcome to apply. The only pre-requisites for most positions are enthusiasm, an open mind, flexibility, and the desire to work in a multi-cultural and multi-lingual environment. For all placements, at least some knowledge of the Italian language will greatly enhance the Co-Op experience. Students with a background in Italian and the academic major concentrations specified by in each Co-Op description will be given preference for placement.

 

 
What are the program dates?

The specific Co-Op start and end dates will be set on an individual basis according to the specific work placement. In general, the study abroad dates and Co-Op programs take place during the following periods:

 

Two Semester Programs

Duration: 8 months

• One semester of full-time study at Umbra followed by four months of Co-Op experience
• Option 1: Fall Semester Study (Sept-Dec) and Spring Semester Co-Op (Jan-April)
• Option 2: Spring Semester Study (Jan-April) and Fall Semester Co-Op (Sept-Dec)

Single Semester Programs

Duration: 6 months

• Two months of Italian language preparatory courses followed by four months of Co-Op experience
• Option 1: Summer Italian Preparatory course (July-August) and Fall semester Co-Op (Sept-Dec)
• Option 2: Winter Italian language Preparatory course (Jan-Feb) and Spring semester Co-Op (March-June) 

 

Study Abroad and the Co-Op Experience

International Co-Ops require advance planning and preparation. At the Umbra Institute, we strongly believe that both students and employers have a more rewarding Co-Op experience when a semester of study abroad precedes the employment experience. Studying abroad allows students to earn transferable credits, acquire language and cultural competency, and acclimate to the foreign environment. The skills, knowledge, and cultural understanding gained during a semester or summer session in Italy can then be directly applied during the Co-Op employment period.

 

Click Here to read a summary of the study abroad and Co-Op experience. If you require additional information, please write to us at info@umbra.org and we will be pleased to provide additional information.

 

 

Where will you work?

Below is a list of the community partners with whom the Umbra Institute has developed Co-Op positions for students from North American colleges and universities. Please note that some Co-Ops are offered only in the spring, and that some require a full-semester abroad in advance to be eligible. You can follow the links to see detailed descriptions and pre-requisites for each Co-Op.

 

Biblioteca Augusta: Public Library

City of Perugia Tourism Office: Public Service

Hotel Giò: Hotel, Restaurant, & Enoteca

Ranieri Foundation at Palazzo Sorbello: House Museum

SynErgo & TuttOggi: Online Newspaper & Media Company

The Umbra Institute: Study Abroad Program Provider

Umbria Cuscinetti: Aerospace Engineering Manufacturer

Studio Gusto: Design and Integrated Communications Studio

What costs are involved?

The following costs will apply:

Two Semester Program - Total 8 months in Italy (One semester of study for up to 16 credits followed four months of Co-Op work at a local business in or nearby Perugia.)	$14,500.00*
One Semester Co-Op – Total 6 Months in Italy  (Two months of language preparation for up to 8 credits and and four months of Co-op work at a local business in or nearby Perugia)	$6,975.00*

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

* Note: Each Co-Op is a full-time position and is remunerated with free housing and 200 Euro/month honorarium for work performed during the Co-Op period. 

 

What kind of compensation is available for Co-Op?
All Co-Op students will be given free housing in shared apartments (utilities included) and 200 euro a month provided by the sponsoring entity for the duration of their Co-Op. All students will also have access to Umbra Institute facilities, on-site staff support, and additional Italian language exercise courses throughout the duration of the Co-Op period. The monthly stipend during the employment period and housing allocation are equivalent to roughly 2,000€ (Euro) of compensation.

 

 

How to Apply

Students who want to participate in any of the Co-Ops facilitated by the Umbra Institute must apply through the Umbra online application. Click Here to Apply Now. 

 

We encourage all interested students to apply as early as possible due to the limited number of placements, and the extensive planning and preparation process. Co-Ops are allocated on a first-come, first-serve basis for those who qualify.  The application deadlines are as follows:

 

—————	Fall Semester Study/Spring Co-Op: Applications due by May 15
	Spring Semester Study/Fall Co-Op: Applications due by October 15
	Fall Language Prep & Co-Op: Applications due by May 15
	Spring Language Prep & Co-Op: Applications due by October 15

 

 

 

 

 

 

Once  the application is received, applicants will be directly contacted by the Co-Op Coordinator, Mauro Renna (mrenna@umbra.org), to determine eligibility and appropriate placement. In some cases, a phone or Skype interview with the Co-Op entity may be required before acceptance.

 

 

Find Out More
If you have additional questions and would like to discuss how Co-Op and Study Abroad through the Umbra Institute can fit into your academic curriculum, please write to us at info@umbra.org. An Umbra advisor will contact you shortly via email, and if necessary arrange a call via Skype.