The President’s Council on Jobs and Competitiveness announced 50 industry leaders have committed to increasing the number of engineering internships available for the summer of 2012 — 45 of which will double the internships they offer — according to a White House news release.
“Today’s announcement is about inspiring and encouraging our next generation of engineers,” said Intel President and CEO Paul Otellini in the news release. “It’s a private sector commitment working arm-and-arm with the government to accelerate the specialized skills needed for America to retain its technological relationships.”
The College of Engineering is partnering with Career Services, which manages the student internship process, to complete this plan.
Some students in the school also said they believe internships are essential to get a job after college.
“Internships are very important because employers look for applicants to already have knowledge and experience within that field,” said mechanical engineering senior Blake Banta.
According to a survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, students with bachelor’s degrees who took part in internships in 2011 earn an average of $16.68 an hour.
“Having internship experience is nearly a prerequisite,” Koubek said. “As part of our strategic plan, we want to be sure LSU engineers are among the most highly sought after graduates in the nation and encourage students to make every effort to acquire internship experience to further enhance their skill