Fall Internship Opportunity

Heartland Global

Fall 2013

AgEI Semester, Inc.

Internship Project Plan

The AgEI Semester, Inc. Internship Program offers students the opportunity to work with an agriculture company on a tangible project in product, business or market development. Small teams of students will work for one semester on campus as interns on a project that is necessary to assist participating firms in their product, marketing, and business development goals.

Details:
• Compensation is $10/hour
• Must be able to work a minimum of 12 hours/week
• Program duration is 12 weeks, during the fall semester
• All interns will have office space in 109/0030 Curtiss Hall

RESUMES DUE: Sept. 5th to carlyc@iastate.edu

INTERNSHIP OVERVIEW

Through this semester internship project, you will complete a high-level analysis of agricultural, economic, and political drivers of opportunities and risks for agricultural investment in countries in Sub-Saharan Africa.  This analysis will synthesize a large body of data relevant to development of agriculture and agribusiness in Sub-Saharan Africa, and build a diagnosis of country-level opportunities and risks. 

LEARNING OBJECTIVES FOR STUDENTS

• Provide an experience in business development, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
• Provide experience in primary and market research collection.
• Increase understanding of the African agricultural, economic and political drivers of opportunity.
• Provide an atmosphere of collective learning.

EXPECTATIONS OF STUDENTS

• Ask questions. If you have a question, need extra resources, are struggling with a concept, etc. please speak up. You will be leading your portion for the project team, at times you will need assistance and should not be afraid to seek it out to keep moving forward.
• Remain open to challenges. There will be times when you will be given a task that is unfamiliar to you. We expect that you will ask questions and at minimum, try to complete the task. Remember - we're ok with failure as long as you try!
• Time Management: This internship will give you the opportunity to learn how to manage your time as you complete the assigned project.  You must show the initiative to start and conclude tasks with, at times, minimal guidance. 
• Communication: Communication between you and Heartland staff is essential to ensure the long-term success of the project. 

SEMESTER WORK PLAN

For the purpose of this project, the workload will be divided amongst two student interns. During the first week of the internship each students will be responsible for developing their own 12 week work plan, breaking down their work into a manageable plan.  Program plans will be reviewed and approved by the AgEI office and a representative from Heartland Global.  All work will be conducted out of the AgEI office, on the Iowa State University campus.