U21 Sustainable Micro-internship Program

About Universitas21

U21 offers free, online international micro-internship opportunities for students around the world a few times a year.

U21 Sustainable Micro-internships allow you to work with your fellow students from across the globe, sharing knowledge and expertise whilst immersing yourself in a commercial organization. Not only will you form quick partnerships with sustainability-minded students around the world, but you’ll also challenge your abilities, whilst developing key skills enabling you to thrive in the modern workplace.

Testimonials from previous participants

“I came away from the experience with a greater appreciation for compromise and negotiation when collaborating with a team, as well as greater competency in researching and presenting solutions to real-world problems.”

“U21 was one of the most amazing experiences I’ve had! I got to work with students from 8 different countries, 10 different majors, all of them working to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and address climate change. No other platform gives such an opportunity to work with a diverse group!”

“It provides a fun, supportive, and interactive yet low-stress way to immerse oneself in a particular issue and gain knowledge about another part of the world.”

The U21 Micro-Internship Opportunity

This exclusive opportunity is only available to students at U21 member universities and is open to students of all disciplines. Throughout the program participants will engage with and learn from students across the globe spanning 21 countries and 19 time zones.

Find out more about the U21 Sustainable Micro-internships Program

Over the two-week program you will be presented with an ongoing sustainability challenge from your host employer and work in groups to innovate a solution and how to communicate this with senior stakeholders. The internships involve two, 2.5 hour live online sessions at the start and end of the 2 week program, with the rest of the project work undertaken flexibly, online around your other commitments.

As a result of the program, you will develop:

  • Agility – your ability to adapt to new environments, to grasp topics outside of your academic specialism and work with difference. 
  • International Collaboration – first-hand experience of working across different time zones, languages and cultures, bringing together global knowledge to deliver results for an employer. 
  • Influence – your ability to build trust and solve complex problems quickly.
  • Presentation Skills – your ability to clearly convey complex information to your stakeholders.
  • Teamwork – your ability to work with a new and globally diverse team to deliver a solution.  

Successful completion of the program and all activities will earn you the Leading Change micro-credential which you can display on your LinkedIn profile, demonstrating that you have developed the skills to tackle complex global issues and stand up as a leader.

We hope that you will want to join this free program.  Please note that there is a limited number of spaces per member university and U21 will operate a waiting list once all allocated spaces are filled.

Applications are now open for six micro-internship opportunities and are due by 12:00 pm on Wednesday, November 8. Applicants will be notified of their status by Tuesday, November 14.

Current Opportunities

Friday, December 1 – Friday, December 15, 2023 – SDG Focus: Decent Work and Economic Growth

Micro-internship 1
Compulsory live sessions: Tuesday, December 5 and Thursday, December 14 – 12:00 am – 2:30 am EST 

Micro-internship 2
Compulsory live sessions: Tuesday, December 5 and Thursday, December 14 – 9:00 am – 11:30 am EST

Friday, January 12 – Friday, January 26, 2024 – Responsible Production & Consumption

Micro-internship 3
Compulsory live sessions: Tuesday, January 16 and Thursday, January 25 – 12:00 am – 2:30 am EST 

Micro-internship 4
Compulsory live sessions: Tuesday, January 16 and Thursday, January 25 – 9:00 am – 11:30 am EST 

Friday, February 2 – Friday, February 16, 2024 – SDG Focus: Reduced Inequalities

Micro-internship 5
Compulsory live sessions: Tuesday, February 6 and Thursday, February 15 – 12:00 am – 2:30 am EST 

Micro-internship 6
Compulsory live sessions: Tuesday, February 6 and Thursday, February 15 – 9:00 am – 11:30 am EST 

Apply Now

Questions about the U21 Micro-Internships? Email uconncareer@uconn.edu.