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 Ingredient #6: Private Sector
Outreach Skills
For anyone establishing a program comparable to the
URI program, which relies on close collaboration with
business and industry for a variety of reasons, it is
essential that the program leadership include persons
with strong development skills. In order to build an
internship program, a university representative must
visit with leadership-level persons in the companies
involved. In most cases this calls for good
presentation skills, and, in the case of visits
abroad, presentations in a language other than
English, with sensitivity to cultural differences.
The IEP corporate liaison must be capable of board
room visits, and feel comfortable in the social
environment of the business world. Annual board
meetings with corporate supporters are likewise
expected, and, here again, the IEP faculty need to be
able to present themselves appropriately.
For faculty who might shy away from this part of the
experience, there may be university officials who can
assume this role for the program. Certainly the deans
should be involved, as should the provost and the
president. Business leaders are happy to play a part
in the university community, but they need to know
that this is recognized and appreciated by the
institution as a whole.
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