850 college students to get state-funded overseas internship

Hundreds of college students will get a chance to receive internships abroad, as part of a government program to help them develop global mindsets and land jobs after graduation, the Education Ministry said Sunday.

Under the global internship program launched in 2005, the ministry will select 850 college students ― 250 from four-year universities and 600 from community colleges ― as 2012 overseas interns to be sent to English-speaking countries such as the U.S., the U.K., Canada and Australia, and neighboring Japan, China and other countries, officials said.

Every intern will receive government support from about 2.2 million won ($1,900) to 4.5 million won ($4,000) for airline tickets, visa issuance fees, insurance fees and other administrative costs.

The ministry and the university education council will invest a total of 5.8 billion won ($5 million) in the 2012 internship program, with schools taking up 30 to 50 percent of the program fund, according to officials. In selecting global interns, it will place a high priority on students from low income families, and set aside 30 percent of the total intern spots for them.

Senior students with average grades over a B, who pass the English proficiency tests approved by the government, are eligible to apply for the program. When selected, they are to undergo orientation and training courses before going overseas for the internships from four to six months, officials said.

The ministry will hold a briefing session on the program for college officials at Hanyang University at 2 p.m., Tuesday.

By Lee Woo-young  (wylee@heraldcorp.com)