In an effort to help stop the “brain drain” that leads talented young people to leave South Florida, Barry University has joined a group of Miami-area academic and business leaders in an effort to create a regional internship program that will link university, college, and high school students directly to opportunities in high-growth industries.
John Moriarty, director of Barry’s Career Development Center, joined representatives from the Beacon Council and six other universities to unveil the Talent Development Network (TDN) at a ceremony at the Florida Blue Cross Blue Shield Building in Doral on April 15, 2015.
The TDN is based on the Beacon Council’s “One Community One Goal strategic plan” which aims to identify and prioritize the industries which will have the highest potential for creating new jobs and provide for training required to grow these industries in South Florida. Along those lines, the TDN will focus on creating internship opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students in seven industries: Aerospace, Creative Design, Hospitality and Leisure, Information Technology, Life Sciences and Health Care, International Banking and Finance and Trade and Logistics.
Research shows internships – particularly paid internships – are critical to student success. More than 60 percent of paid interns received at least one job offer after graduation, while only 37 percent of unpaid interns got an offer.
Beyond creating internships, TDN will also assist students at no charge with their resumes and interview skills, through an agreement with CareerSource South Florida.
Initial funding for TDN was provided by the Miami Foundation, Helios Education Foundation, the Peacock Foundation and the Shaffer Family.
THE TDN’s goal is to create 200 new internship opportunities over the next two years. Thus far, 14 companies have signed on to create internships through the program including American Airlines, Baptist Health South Florida, and the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Participating institutions include Barry, FIU, Florida Memorial University, Miami-Dade County Public Schools, Miami Dade College, St. Thomas University and the University of Miami.
For more information on the TDN, visit their site at tdnmiami.com. To apply for an internship with the the TDN, contact Moriarty in Barry’s Career Development Center.