Evolution of the Alliance for industrial internships

The Alliance is an empowering network of BME units that uses web-based support to place undergraduate and graduate students in industrial internship experiences, thereby enhancing individual efforts by the units. While coordinators can and do work separately, the Alliance provides them with tools that aid in placing students in opportunities nearer home, in industries specializing in work that matches particular interests, in positions that were obtained through the national effort, and in local positions that would go unused. The Alliance has evolved from a small group of initial trial participants, to the current state of 18 active participants. Evolution of the software and web sites that support the Alliance has occurred through feedback from coordinators, students and companies. A formal survey of our constituents allows for continued improvement of the system and development of a true value-added Alliance. We will explore examples, statistics, and initial results of the first formal trial of the Alliance occurring in Summer 2002 and address its future direction and growth.