~40%

The percentage of students who complete a high-quality internship before graduating.

2%

The number of students who study abroad each year, despite university efforts to expand this opportunity.

35%

The boost in chances for students with internships to land at least one job offer.

27%

The lifetime earnings advantage for students who complete an internship.

40%

of students complete a high-quality internship prior to graduation and companies are reducing internship seats every year. Personal obligations such as families and existing jobs, along with the lack of internship opportunities, are cited as key reasons that students don’t participate. Those without internships are graduating underprepared for the job market.

Students with internship experience are 35% more likely to receive at least one job offer and out-earn peers by 27% throughout their lifetime

2%

of students study abroad each year despite heroic efforts to increase participation over the past 50 years. The vast majority of students can’t fit it into their schedule, can’t afford the high cost of travel, or simply don’t want to study abroad. They are missing out on those crucial global competencies like learning to work in diverse teams with others very different from themselves.

Leading colleges and universities partner with Podium Education to offer their students the for-credit experiential learning program, the Global Career Accelerator.

The Global Career Accelerator

Embedded into the undergraduate degree for credit
Academic credit is offered by your institution and can be configured to fit institutional needs while the university maintains academic oversight

No prerequisites - every student can participate
The Global Career Accelerator is built to augment any major so all students can access the skills and experience they need to succeed

Supports your enrollment & retention goals
A unique value proposition for engaging students in your institution

Can be offered at no cost to the institution or student
Pricing models that make piloting the program risk free and opens access to every student

Instantly expands upon your internationalization and experiential goals
Engages students who are unable to participate in study abroad or internships

The Global Career Accelerator is a fully digital program that combines the critical benefits of excellent High Impact Practices, including internships and study abroad.

Our Design Principles

Immersive projects
‍Projects are filmed onsite at employer offices; Students see company cultures and challenges firsthand, without leaving campus or home.
Direct, live interaction
‍This is authentic exposure to the world of work; Students meet with industry experts and employers in weekly live sessions.
Real-world problems
No dated case studies or sanitized data here; Students engage with real, relevant employer challenges.

Program Benefits

We’ve co-designed authentic, global projects with world-class organizations that give every student a seat at the table.

Real-World Projects
Students work on 8-9 projects addressing real global challenges from our industry partners, offering hands-on experience across diverse sectors—from consumer goods to big tech. This gives students valuable insights into working at leading global companies.

View sample brand projects ➔

Industry Tools
Participants gain proficiency in industry tools like Tableau, Shopify, Python, AI, Meta, and Google platforms. They also earn microcredentials and company certifications to enhance their internship or job search.

Global LiveLabs
Students collaborate weekly on live projects in diverse, hand-formed teams with peers from over 60 countries. This hands-on experience helps them build social capital and a global network while working on real-world challenges.

Career Connections
Career events and preparation activities are integrated throughout the program. Upon completion, students receive priority for internships, job placements, and paid freelance opportunities with partner companies.

Colleges and universities with industry experience integrated into the degree are the future.