Grad student skills internship program provides resources needed to excel

Learning how to build a connection between the academic and professional world can be challenging for some graduate students. Since 2016, the Transformative Talent Internships (TTI) program has supported the transition from graduate student to working professional through skill-developing internships supported by the Faculty of Graduate Studies (FGS) at the University of Calgary. 

This program ensures that grad students get the most out of their internship and helps them to explore career options while offering hands-on experience. Asma Bernier, BA'22, MA'24, a recently graduated master’s student from the Department of Communication and Media Studies, says students in social sciences and humanities are often unaware of opportunities outside of academia. 

“I found myself so hyper-focused on gaining academic experience through teaching, researching and publishing that I forgot the importance of seeking out experience in the professional world,” says Bernier. “I advise my peers to expand their network, skill set and experiences by exploring opportunities that they may overlook.”

Researching while completing TTI

While finishing up her first teaching assistantship, Bernier’s journey took an unexpected turn when she discovered an internship opportunity in FGS. The posting appeared on GRADpost, the weekly newsletter for all current graduate students, and Bernier saw it as a chance to broaden her knowledge and expertise. 

“As soon as I saw this posting, I immediately applied,” says Bernier. “I knew that I already gained a lot of academic experience and thought this internship would help me expand my network and develop new skills.” The communications assistant internship at FGS was initially for four months, but it grew to 12.

Bernier’s internship was a dynamic role, centred around communication and graduate recruitment. Under the leadership of the communications manager, she was responsible for creating social media content, copywriting, graphic design, website maintenance and video editing.

“Considering the variety of responsibilities the role came with, I not only was able to develop new skills, but also had the chance to sharpen my current skill set,” Bernier says. 

Her journey was not without challenges. Balancing classes, research and her internship were not easy tasks, but TTI played a crucial role in helping Bernier overcome these hurdles through structured goal-setting and personal reflections.

Building a connection between academia and the professional world

“TTI provides graduate students with resources needed to excel in industry when starting their careers,” Bernier says. “I wanted exposure to the professional world and to learn how to translate my academic knowledge and expertise into the workplace.” 

Throughout her internship and TTI journey, Bernier gained and built upon an array of skills, from graphic design to video editing. The TTI program helped her identify and strengthen her transferable skills. As a graduate student who holds profound passion for research and writing, Bernier admits that she had been focused on building academic connections and paving the way for a career in academia. While she finds this important, she now realizes that combining hands-on professional experience and academic excellence will further lead her to personal and professional growth.

“The Transformative Talent Internship is a fantastic way for graduate students to develop transferable skills that will set them up for success as they step into their careers,” says Dr. Tara Beattie, dean and vice-provost (graduate studies). “Graduate students can help move employers' businesses forward by being creative, self-directed and highly adaptable. Asma is a perfect example of bringing her focus and discipline into the workplace and showcasing the transformative talent coming from our graduate programs.”

Advice to graduate students interested in TTI

Bernier calls the internship “illuminating, affording me the opportunity to understand nuanced institutional strategies used in graduate recruitment and communication. Connecting with professionals through this work-integrated learning opportunity has broadened by perspective and allows me to think outside of my current expertise.” 

Bernier strongly encourages graduate students who are considering a TTI to not hesitate. This program enables graduate students to seek work-integrated learning through goal-setting, identifying transferable skills and personal strengths, and ongoing reflection. Students who complete this program are also eligible for a $500 completion award. 

“I am grateful for TTI,” says Bernier. “This program helped me become more confident in my work performance. I believe that the growth I experienced throughout TTI is what rewarded me the extension of my (FGS) internship from four months to 12 months.” 

To learn more about Transformative Talent Internships available to current graduate students at UCalgary, please visit the website.