Registration for Vilnius University's (VU) "Smart Internship", aimed at VU students, is open until September 20. During the internship, students tackle real business and institutional challenges in interdisciplinary teams of 5–7 people, working according to the Design Thinking methodology. Through the internship, students gain practical experience and build professional connections, and for some of them it becomes a first step toward their future career. The whole process is guided by an internship supervisor both at the University and at the partner organization, and is accompanied by additional training sessions to strengthen time management, teamwork, public speaking, and reflection skills.
Students from our faculty also took part in the Smart Internship last semester. Gytis and Augustė share their impressions!
Gytis:
It all started with an invitation to take part in the Smart Internship that I received via Outlook. I decided to look into it further, and soon after I filled out the application. What interested me most was the opportunity to gain practical experience for free, perhaps even in a field I hadn't considered before. I thought it was a great chance to test myself, and to get to know my strengths, competencies, and interests better. I believe that only by daring to step into new experiences can we discover what we truly enjoy and where we want to grow. It was also a chance to broaden my horizons, gain new skills, and build up valuable experience. In other words, I saw an opportunity and thought: "Why not?"
Augustė:
I unexpectedly decided to take part during my final bachelor's semester, when I saw that this kind of internship was happening. I wanted to set myself a challenge and to make professional and friendly connections.
What new things did you learn or discover about yourself?
Augustė:
I learned the value of teamwork, and that I can complete organizational tasks quickly and efficiently.
Gytis:
During the internship, I learned to adapt to a different kind of team dynamic, to contribute to shaping it, and to take responsibility for the team-formation process. I realized that even without being a leader, I can have a meaningful impact on the team's atmosphere, collaboration, and members' engagement. I also got to know my role within a team better and saw how I could apply the competencies I already had in different situations. One of the most important discoveries was realizing that I'm able to look at situations from several different perspectives, which helps in finding the best solutions.
The Smart Internship is open to all VU students, regardless of study program, degree level, or year. Students can complete it either as a voluntary (additional) internship or as a professional study internship. The Smart Internship lasts three months. This semester, students can choose from five challenges submitted by the Office of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania, the State Consumer Rights Protection Authority, the bond investment platform "Bondea," the Chamber of Insurance Brokers, and the Vilnius city business and tourism development agency "Go Vilnius."
More information about the Smart Internship can be found here.