Engineering Entrepreneurial Internship Programs: Planning, Operating And Growing

This paper documents the creation of the Entrepreneurial Internship Program (EIP) at Lawrence Technological University. The Office of Career Services and the College of Engineering in conjunction with the Kern Family Foundation have developed an innovative entrepreneurial experiential learning co-op program. This unique program brings together entrepreneurs and entrepreneurial minded students who want an opportunity to learn more about entrepreneurial thinking. This paper will provide an example of how to create and implement an entrepreneurial internship program. In addition, we will document the experiential learning experiences that have taken place since the launch of the new program. The challenges of bringing the right mix of employer and student together takes time and a strong commitment to making it work for all involved. In order to achieve the EIP mission of understanding the entrepreneurial mindset, the employer must be receptive to the student’s need to explore and understand the key elements of strategic planning, and be exposed to the operational challenges of the company, including failures and successes. This EIP at Lawrence Tech fosters the involvement of companies founded and operated by entrepreneurial alumni. The Legends of Lawrence Tech is an organization of entrepreneurial alumni that has taken a strong interest in the EIP.