Entrepreneurship Internships Differ From Traditional Business and Management Internships: A Framework for Implementation

The nature of a regular internship versus an entrepreneurship internship is different
relative to the level of commitment required of an organization.

An entrepreneurship
internship program faces unique challenges and embodies fundamental differences in
objectives as compared to traditional business internship programs, especially if it is
part of a comprehensive undergraduate major in entrepreneurship. However,
undergraduate students tend to initially adopt a traditional job search methodology and
mindset, which requires realignment to one that is, ironically, more entrepreneurial.

How does the intern know what it is really like to “walk a mile in the entrepreneur’s
shoes?” Using a case methodology, we provide an answer to this question. We
describe the efforts of one of the authors to develop and grow an existing internship
program at a regional university in the Southeast.

This paper discusses insights gained
through implementing the undergraduate entrepreneurship intern program at one
institution, and provides a framework for other institutions that may wish to explore or
implement an entrepreneurship internship program of their own. We conclude with
observations on the implications of this study as well as a brief commentary on future
research.

Kirk Heriot, Columbus State University

Robert Lahm, Western Carolina University

Full Paper: http://sbaer.uca.edu/research/sbi/2009/St.%20Petersburg,%20Florida/p09.pdf