*New Internship Alert* CEED Concordia’s Virtual Technology and Education Internship

*Deadline extension until January 12th at 11:59PM EST*

So…What is Tech Ed?

CEED Concordia is hosting a virtual Technology and Education Internship and if you are still thinking about applying, the following reasons will give you the push you need to submit.

We know that the world is shifting to a digital work environment. And we have to adapt to that reality. In Canada, we have the privilege of growing up with access to computers, introduction classes to word and excel, PowerPoint presentations in class, etc… However, the same opportunities are not available to everyone across the globe.

According to the Internet World Stats, two-thirds of the population still don’t have access to the internet. This means that the digital divide is becoming more and more present as work opportunities are shifting towards digitalization. Unesco explains digital literacy as being a “set of basic skills, which include the use and production of digital media, information processing and retrieval, participation in social networks for creation and sharing of knowledge, and a wide range of professional computing skills.” It is even characterized as an essential life skill as it is necessary to get ahead in the professional world and acts as a catalyst to acquire other necessary life skills. That being said, the people who still don’t have steady access to the internet, as well as basic computer skills, definitely don’t have the same opportunities, in both their academic and professional life.

The current digital gap in Uganda

In Uganda, 70% of the population is under the age of 30, and 83% of the youths are unemployed. This can be explained by the divide between their education and the vocational skills necessary for the jobs that are in demand for workers. Nevertheless, countries like Uganda are at a critical point where they could enter into the fourth industrial revolution if the necessary skills are developed. The World Bank data shows that digital transformation could increase regional economic growth by 2% per year. This would allow for fresh opportunities to arise through innovation, service delivery and job creation. In that sense, it is all the more critical that youth develop digital skills to be better equipped to enter into that fourth industrial revolution.

Why you should get involved with Tech-ED

Now, this is where you can play a part in all of this. During this internship, you will participate in developing and facilitating practical workshops for high school students in Northern Uganda, that improve basic skills in Microsoft such as Excel and Word, and introduction to programming. In doing so, you will contribute to leveraging ICT skills to benefit teenagers’ education and personal development. You will be working alongside Ugandan interns to develop these workshops, which will allow you to improve on your cross-cultural communication skills, as well as build meaningful connections. All interns will receive an honorarium based on the number of hours they are contributing and can take this internship for credit if they wish to.

If you have been asking yourself how you can get involved in bridging the digital gap between countries, contribute to skills development in Africa, acquire international experience, or improve your teaching skills, well this is definitely an opportunity for you.

Internship details

It is open to all current Concordia students and if you need more information, you can click here.

The deadline to apply is Tuesday January 5th at 11:59 pm EST. You just need to fill out the application form and upload your resume and optional portfolio. This amazing opportunity awaits!

For any questions, you can contact internships@ceedconcordia.org.

Written by Samita Mandjee, Internship Coordinator