ORGANIZATION
Gazelle International is a young nonprofit based in Guilford, CT, USA, with the mission to help colleges and universities provide high quality international education to more students so all have the opportunity to create paths to successful careers and lives in our complex global world. Gazelle's virtual exchange system provides a low-cost, relatively speedy on-ramp for creating sustainable campus internationalization strategies. "CLICK," (Collaborative Learning for International Capabilities and Knowledge), their virtual exchange system harness a troika of tools — faculty talent, technology and travel — to enable students to develop their international capabilities through cross-country teamwork in classroom settings. Building on classroom connections, travel further motivates funders, students and faculty. Gazelle's services include: training for teachers in CLICK /Virtual Exchange, consulting, and assessment. In AY 2021-2022, Gazelle plans to grow the business, building on our first two institutional clients (US community colleges in Connecticut and Wisconsin) while adding their French “cousins” the IUT’s of University of Paris Saclay and other institutional and individual clients and partners in the US and worldwide.
SPONSOR
Nancy L. Ruther, EdD, Principal & Founder of Gazelle International
Purpose
Focus of Internship: Data analysis, visualization and dissemination
This internship will focus on assessment practices at Gazelle International focused on understanding and presenting student, teacher and program results of the ‘CLICK’ virtual exchange program. The intern will help ensure the appropriateness and sustainability of data gathering, analysis and reporting methods used to assess student and teacher outcomes. In doing so, the intern will contribute to the larger research and advocacy work around international higher education and virtual exchange. Clarifying and demonstrating the value of Gazelle's assessment tools and procedures in understanding key results will contribute to the larger international higher education community. Gazelle hopes to create a sustainable revenue source and top-quality service with their tools and database to provide comparative insights for their growing client and partner network. The intern will help put together data and highlights for conference presentations or journal articles relevant to their brief. The intern will also participate in social media and marketing efforts including writing blog posts and other media items related to our assessment activities and reports to various stakeholders, clients and the larger virtual exchange community. They will contribute their knowledge and creative insights from their work with the larger team, clients and partner network. This internship will give students the chance to contribute meaningfully to the evolving goals and practices of Gazelle International and the larger virtual exchange community.
Professional development areas include:
- Learning to work in a virtual environment across countries
- Developing outcome assessment tools and procedures of use to the larger international higher education community
- Learning about the community college system in the US and university systems overseas
- Learning about how institutional research and outcomes assessment is used in higher education decision making and program development
Career Development
This internship will prepare for careers in any of the following
- Higher-Ed and research administration
- Entrepreneurship in non-profits
- Education consulting
- Data science
- Advocacy and Policy
- Communication, Outreach and Publishing
Responsibilities
Data Analyst intern at Gazelle International will assist the Principal in deriving insights from 4+ years of survey results and other indicators in order to present program results to various stakeholders and potential clients. The data analyst intern will also be responsible for maintaining previous years' data, developing and documenting best practices, and exploring new ways of narrating the impact and effects of the program. As part of data assessment, the intern will also be asked (with the guidance of Principal) to familiarize themselves with the professional literature on internationalization strategy and identify best practices and new avenues for assessment and dissemination of results. They will work with the team and Principal to translate our findings into client reports and briefings. This data analyst position will also involve consulting with faculty and partners on best practices for outcomes evaluation and writing briefs on lessons we find that can enhance the virtual exchange experience for teachers and students. To the extent the intern wishes, they would be welcome to join the team in presenting our results at conferences, webinars or other venues.
Skills Development
This internship will provide experiences to develop and polish the following skills
- Communication to diverse audience
- Inter-disciplinary team collaboration
- Knowledge of sector and networking
- Data analytics and fluency
- Thought leadership and innovation
- Problem-solving and analytical
- Project management and leadership
- Working in a Virtual environment across countries
Gazelle provides a unique entrepreneurial environment and insider view of innovation in higher education as a start-up nonprofit that provides training and consulting services for international higher education with a cutting-edge approach in Virtual Exchange and targeting community colleges and under-served institutions.
Mentoring Plan
The intern will receive direct mentoring and supervision by the sponsor, including initial training and orientation with regard to the mission of the organization and standards for communication, with the expectation of increasing autonomy as the internship progresses. As relevant, the intern may be offered the opportunity to attend and present work at professional conferences on international higher education and virtual exchange. As a largely virtual work arrangement, the normal means of communication will be via Zoom, WhatsApp, phone and email. Normally, the work will be conducted on a weekly basis with multi-week goals and weekly team meetings. As possible, the sponsor will travel to UVA to meet with the intern in person, provide orientation and begin developing the specific plans for the work as part of the Gazelle International team.
Desired Qualities
Prospective interns should have baseline experience in some of these areas and the motivation to develop professionally in each of them
- Good communication skills in writing and in person by phone or in virtual meetings.
- Prior experience in managing data and data collections in a professional or research environment is preferred.
- Proficiency with excel, experience with or interest in data analysis, visualization and evaluation methods. Familiarity or interest in exploring Tableau would be useful.
- Familiarity with teaching and learning goals and assessment approaches and different higher education systems and cross-cultural differences around the world
- Prior experience in Institutional Research or teaching and working with a Center for Teaching and Learning or similar techno-pedagogy support center for teachers would be useful.
- Experience managing initiatives in a professional environment or student organization is preferred.
- Cross-cultural and/or second language study-work experience helpful.
- Students with Education, Social Science or other Arts & Sciences training with interdisciplinary interests are encouraged to apply.
Duration and Effort
The internship will commence in Spring 2022, involving average effort of 10 hours per week over 20 weeks. The internship may be extended in Summer 2022 upon interest of the intern. The intern will work remotely in Charlottesville with regular virtual check-ins with mentor.
Funding
The intern will be funded up to $5000 per semester, in wage replacement or augmenting other fellowship support. The host will support conference expenses on mutually beneficial opportunities for a presentation.