UW System, WEDC Unveil Online ‘Talent Generator’ To Boost Internships For UW Students

The University of Wisconsin System and Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. (WEDC) have unveiled a new online tool to help small and medium-sized businesses recruit interns from UW campuses. The goal is to improve the student experience and keep skilled workers from leaving the state.

In spring of 2017, 56 percent of all seniors at UW System colleges and universities participated in internships or other career-related field experiences. That’s higher than the national average of 47 percent, according to UW.

But with declines in the number of Wisconsin high school graduates expected to hit higher education by 2026, state officials are hoping to increase the use of internships as a way to keep students, particularly those attending UW campuses from other states, in Wisconsin while filling demands for skilled workers at businesses across the state.

The “Talent Generator” is an online portal for businesses interested in starting internships for the first time. It offers business leaders tips and best practices for recruiting potential interns. It also offers links to career services staff at nearby UW System campuses.

During a press conference Tuesday in Eau Claire, UW System President Ray Cross said while UW schools already have strong internship opportunities, not all businesses are familiar with the process or have the means to find candidates.

“What we discovered was that businesses said to us, particularly small and medium businesses, we really don’t have an HR department,” said Cross. “And those are some excellent internship opportunities in startups or small businesses.”

Cross said about half of the students who receive internships at UW are offered full time jobs by the companies that recruit them. He said it’s one way to ensure that students graduating at UW institutions build lasting connections to Wisconsin.

“We have people paying the University of Wisconsin out-of-state tuition to come here,” Cross said. “Our challenge is to keep them here and that’s what internships are all about.”

WEDC CEO Missy Hughes said efforts to create the online “Talent Generator” were in the works before she was appointed to lead the agency, adding that the state’s businesses need skilled workers.

“Every business mentioned the need for additional talent, for workforce, for Wisconsin citizens to come work for them,” said Hughes. “This online tool is going to really help with this by creating these connections between the businesses and the students.”

Cross said the generator will connect students with paid and unpaid internships, though he said UW is pushing those that are paid. Hughes said paid internships are good for students but also provide incentives for businesses to ensure that interns have meaningful experiences.