Burning Glass Institute and NEBHE Study

Originally Published in The Boston Globe

Speaking of higher education making necessary changes, a new study from the Burning Glass Institute for the New England Board of Higher Education (NEBHE) found that while internships provide big benefits for students and employers, the opportunities for such positions are uneven across the region. Students at regional universities and community colleges with fewer resources are less likely to have access to internship opportunities, and small and mid-sized businesses often lack the resources they need to offer students positions.

These groups are now trying to do something about that problem. Michael Thomas, president of NEBHE, which started in the 1950s to foster collaboration across regional universities and employers, told me that his organization has challenged the six New England states to create 10,000 more paid internship opportunities across the region over the next three years.

This seems desperately needed. Students who complete internships are less likely to be underemployed after graduation and more likely to work in their field of study. Hopefully employers of all sizes will step up to help meet this goal, since we also know that paid work experiences before graduation help to prove the value of a college degree to skeptical students and families.

NEBHE will work with the National Association of Colleges and Employers to survey employers about what they look for in entry-level hires and what kinds of support they need to expand work-based learning opportunities. NEBHE will also work with the Strada Education Foundation to survey students and better understand what they are taking away from internships and co-ops.

The hope is that all of this data will help address structural barriers that currently limit the number of internships available, especially in rural areas. Thomas wants all students in New England to have access to a work experience before graduation. That would also be good for the region’s economy, since internships and job opportunities are a great way to retain talented graduates.

“We want to make New England really a leader in creating this talent infrastructure,” Thomas said.