What is Project-Based Experiential Learning?
Whether for internship credit or not, project-based experiential learning offers a variety of opportunities to students powered by BYU-Idaho that will help develop hard skills that will be required for a successful transition out of college and into a career. Students might see these project-based learning opportunities in the classroom as part of their course curriculum, or they can seek out opportunities through BYU-Idaho’s project-based internship (PBI) course. Oftentimes students will work in small groups to complete a company-directed project. Students receive academic credit and valuable work experience, while the sponsoring company benefits from their assigned team’s hard work and deliverables. Creating a true win-win scenario.
Students
You can't get a job without experience ... but you can't get experience without a job. Project-based experiential learning is a great way to develop and refine marketable skills. Partnering with a real business, you may work on a project in a wide variety of fields. A project-based experiential learning opportunity opens the door for students to:
*PLEASE NOTE: Not all project-based internships (PBIs) guarantee requirement fulfillment for your major. Students will still need to ensure all internship requirements are being met by checking the department internship requirements page or by talking with your faculty internship coordinator.
- Test drive your future career without relocating, quitting a part-time job or taking time off school
- Apply the tools you're learning in the classroom in a real-world setting
- Gain professional work experience and references to highlight in resumes and future job interviews
- Network with industry and career professionals who can mentor and assist you
- Participate in a Project-Based Internship (PBI) that fulfills internship requirements and receive academic credit*
*PLEASE NOTE: Not all project-based internships (PBIs) guarantee requirement fulfillment for your major. Students will still need to ensure all internship requirements are being met by checking the department internship requirements page or by talking with your faculty internship coordinator.
- Register for course BUS 297R
- Students attending on-campus will need to register for the in-person version of the course
- Students attending online will need to register for the online version of the course.
- If you are wanting to receive credit for an internship, you will need to ensure all internship requirements are being met by checking the department internship requirements page or by talking with an advisor.
Course Requirements
Students will attend meetings as scheduled, and complete an engagement letter, project plan, required learning Canvas modules, and a midterm/final report.
Projects and Teams
Once you are registered in the course, the PBI Coordinator(s) will assign you to a project and team. You will be notified of your team assignment once teams are finalized. Each cross-functional team includes roles such as: team leader, project manager, sponsor liaison, deliverables manager, and reports manager.
Tracking Hours
Students work 7-9 hours a week on their project, tracking and reporting hours on time sheets. Countable hours might include time spent on team meetings, project research, work done on project deliverables, time spent on Canvas modules and 360 surveys, and any required class attendance.
Employer Expectations
Project sponsors (employers) expect students to view a PBI as a real job where real problems are solved. Students are required to be professional and use critical thinking and teamwork to complete projects.
Students will attend meetings as scheduled, and complete an engagement letter, project plan, required learning Canvas modules, and a midterm/final report.
Projects and Teams
Once you are registered in the course, the PBI Coordinator(s) will assign you to a project and team. You will be notified of your team assignment once teams are finalized. Each cross-functional team includes roles such as: team leader, project manager, sponsor liaison, deliverables manager, and reports manager.
Tracking Hours
Students work 7-9 hours a week on their project, tracking and reporting hours on time sheets. Countable hours might include time spent on team meetings, project research, work done on project deliverables, time spent on Canvas modules and 360 surveys, and any required class attendance.
Employer Expectations
Project sponsors (employers) expect students to view a PBI as a real job where real problems are solved. Students are required to be professional and use critical thinking and teamwork to complete projects.
Employers
Looking for help to solve a current business problem facing your organization? Sponsor one of our student experiential learning teams for a semester-long project (40 hours per week for 14 weeks).
Your company will receive the equivalent work output of a full-time college intern from a team of part-time students collaborating on your project. In turn, students receive academic credit and gain valuable real-life work experience in their chosen field.
Benefits to sponsorship include:
Your company will receive the equivalent work output of a full-time college intern from a team of part-time students collaborating on your project. In turn, students receive academic credit and gain valuable real-life work experience in their chosen field.
Benefits to sponsorship include:
- Building your talent pipeline
- High-quality, no-cost work from future professionals
- Expanding brand recognition across campus
- Giving back to BYU-Idaho in a big way
Sponsoring companies should submit college-level projects that will create value for the company while drawing upon student's skills. The project application includes a variety of ideas which sponsors may find useful in determining an appropriate project for their organization.
Some examples of project types include:
Some examples of project types include:
- Sales & Business Development
- Growth Strategy
- Purchasing
- Supply Chain Reporting & Logistics
- Financial Planning & Analysis
- Entrepreneurship
- Business Management
- Marketing
- Customer Service
- Data Management
- And more!
Have Questions? Get in Touch!