About the Programme
The U21 Sustainable Micro-internships programme allows you to work with your fellow students from across the globe, sharing knowledge and expertise whilst immersing yourself in a commercial organisation. In your groups you will be tasked with providing a solution to a real-life SDG related challenge, which you will then pitch to senior stakeholders within the organisation at the end of the programme.
Not only will you form quick partnerships with sustainability-minded students from a variety of academic disciplines around the world, but you’ll also challenge your abilities, whilst developing key skills enabling you to thrive in the modern workplace.
Who can take part?
- Any registered student (post or undergraduate) at a U21 member university.
- All applicants must be over the age of 18 at the time of the course start date.
Please note that spaces are very limited, please ensure that you convert times to your timezones before applying. If you have any questions, please consult our FAQs.
Key Dates
U21 Applications for 2023/24 are now closed,
To express an interest in this programme and other U21 Global Student programmes for future, fill in this form.
Each two week micro-internship has a distinct SDG Focus and will run at different times to allow you to participate around your academic and other commitments.
Micro-Internship 1
Friday 1 December 2023 - Friday 15 December 2023
Decent Work and Economic Growth
Compulsory live sessions: Tuesday 5 December 2023 and Thursday 14 December 2023 - 05.00 - 07.30 GMT
Micro-Internship 2
Friday 1 December 2023 - Friday 15 December 2023
Decent Work and Economic Growth
Compulsory live sessions: Tuesday 5 December 2023 and Thursday 14 December 2023 - 14.00 - 16.30 GMT
Micro-Internship 3
Friday 12 January - Friday 26 January 2024
Responsible Production & Consumption
Compulsory live sessions: Tuesday 16 January 2024 and Thursday 25 January 2024 - 05.00 - 07.30 GMT
Micro-Internship 4
Friday 12 January - Friday 26 January 2024
Responsible Production & Consumption
Compulsory live sessions: Tuesday 16 January 2024 and Thursday 25 January 2024 - 14.00 - 16.30 GMT
Micro-Internship 5
Friday 2 February - Friday 16 February 2024
Reduced Inequalities
Compulsory live sessions: Tuesday 6 February 2024 and Thursday 15 February 2024 - 05.00 - 7.30 GMT
Micro-Internship 6
Friday 2 February - Friday 16 February 2024
Reduced Inequalities
Compulsory live sessions: Tuesday 6 February 2024 and Thursday 15 February 2024 - 14.00 - 16.30 GMT
Why take part?
This is your chance to test your ability to deliver results in the workplace - you’ll be outside your academic discipline, out of your comfort zone, working with a truly diverse team with whom you will quickly have to build connections and understanding, you’ll be set a complex challenge and have to deliver. This is a short, fast-paced and intensive way to develop and practice the skills and ways of working that employers are looking for.
You’ll develop many key employability skills, including:
- 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 timezones, 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 clear convey complex information to your stakeholders.
- Teamwork -your ability to work with a new and globally diverse team to deliver a solution.
Throughout the program you will receive guidance from Common Purpose to work as a team and focus on sustainable solutions. You will also be given access to U21 Community where you can continue to work remotely between sessions to finalise your solution pitch.
If you’re interested in learning more about social change you may also be interested in our micro-online development programme here.