Partnerships Manager, Elliot Rose, introduces our exciting new virtual externship programme.
ACS Doha has partnered with Paragon One, a US-based company who have spent many years cultivating rich relationships with industry-leading companies. Their programmes allow students to undertake remote internships, or ‘externships’ with these companies, working on real projects. The students gain invaluable skills and experience as they begin to prepare for the world beyond school, something that is central to the ACS ethos.
What is an externship and which students can participate?
Paragon One externships are eight-week remote, part-time, experiences. Students spend a minimum of 10 hours each work working on their projects, using an online platform to manage their work, connect with other students and to check-in with their managers. Fifty students from Grades 9 to 12 will participate in the programme this year.
What can a student expect to be doing?
Students are placed with a company, based on their areas of interest that they include in their application to the programme. Once they start their externship, the students log into their Worker Platform to learn skills and complete their assigned projects. They attend meetings to review work, ask questions, and receive support from their manager and host company throughout the eight weeks, and have access to their student community 24/7.
How do they benefit?
Universities and employers are increasingly looking beyond exam grades, seeking real-world experiences in students’ applications and resumés. Completing an externship not only adds enormous value to a student’s university application, it provides them with invaluable experience and helps them to develop the skills they will need as they enter the world beyond education.
Which companies could students work with and on what type of projects?
The companies that Paragon One work with include Facebook, HP Tech Ventures, RallyCry Ventures, Thematic, Younity and Crafted Capital. Depending on the company that a student is placed with, they could be working on a variety of projects, such as product development, PR and marketing campaigns, statistical analysis, and financial management. All of the projects are designed to develop students’ skills in time management, critical thinking and general business understanding.
What has ACS invested into the opportunity for its community of students?
For this initial, pilot programme, ACS has invested £33,000 (approximately QR 164,000) in externship places for 50 students. We believe it to be a vital component of our aim to help our students get ready for the world beyond school.
For further information on the externship programme please contact Elliot Rose via erose@acs-schools.com