Presentation ceremony for Sustainable Internship
Concordia business students who completed internships though the John Molson Sustainable Internship Program (SIP) were recognized at a ceremony held recently at the John Molson building.
SIP is a collaborative initiative, run by Concordia’s David O’Brien Centre for Sustainable Enterprise (DOCSE) and Career Management Services (CMS) at the John Molson School of Business (JMSB).
“The aim of the internship program is to provide undergraduate and graduate students at JMSB with the opportunity to gain valuable experience in business and exposure to sustainable best practices,” says Program Manager Shelly Elsliger.
“It became evident to us that when companies come to recruitment events, they are looking for students with experience,” she said. “Since many firms that are committed to sustainable business practices can’t afford to pay Co-op students, an unpaid internship seems like a win-win for both companies and students looking for experience in sustainability.”
The program, now in its third year, has grown steadily since its inception. This year, 22 JMSB students interned at 12 companies. Because the program is non-credit, students receive a Sustainable Internship Certificate at the program’s annual recognition gala.
JMSB Dean Steve Harvey spoke at the ceremony about the importance of the SIP to Concordia’s business faculty. “The Sustainable Internship Program is evidence of our commitment to playing a global leadership role in the advancement of sustainable enterprise,” he said. “It offers our students hands-on experience and allows them to bring the knowledge they’ve gained in the classroom directly to companies committed to social responsibility.”
"Our goal was to create a learning opportunity that could transform students’ mindset by experiencing sustainability in a practical and transdisciplinary real-world setting,” added Paul Shrivastava, director of DOCSE. “Our internships place students at ground zero of organizational sustainability and get them to engage and solve problems."
Also speaking at the event was Mai-Gee Hum, director of CMS, noting that “the program demonstrates JMSB's commitment to delivering innovative and practical learning experiences.” Hum also talked about the evolution of the SIP. “The growth of the program over the last three years is a testament to the value it brings to the Montreal business community.”
Those in attendance then heard from two SIP employers, who discussed how they benefitted from having JMSB students intern with them, and finally from the students themselves. “Their presentations were inspiring,” said Andrew Ross, a SIP program manager. “They spoke about what they learned, some of the challenges they encountered, and how sustainability transformed their way of thinking for the better.”
The highlight of the evening, according to Ross, was when Diego Saenz, a three-time intern, who now works at DOCSE, took to the stage. After discussing his latest internship, Saenz concluded, “The one thing that really stands out through all of my experiences in the sustainability field is that every person I have met is super nice!”
2011-2012 SIP Interns: Uma Doma, Yuhao Chen, Berke Ugur, Sandra Bayona, Diego Saenz, Keaton Ambrose, Matthew Lynch, Yan Gao, Josh Beitel, Solange Olivares, Stephanie Goodman, Ariane Edjtemai, Michael Chacko, Dorothy Sankey Simon, Naomi Ko, David Li, Clinton D'Souza, Loretta Downing, James Jones-Doyle, Wei Xue, Amanda Tandubuana and Eddy Elsagh.
Host companies: Challenge Your World, Community Engagement Program, Concordia Volunteer Abroad Program (CVAP), E-Cause, End Poverty Now, Four Green Steps, Finance Alliance for Sustaianble Trade (FAST), Kepri, Pole 23, Sustainable Action Fund (SAF), SWAP and UN CBD.
Related links:
• Sustainable Internship Program
• David O’Brien Centre for Sustainable Enterprise
• JMSB Career Management Services
• John Molson School of Business