Final Presentations
In order to give internships a clear focus, it is recommended that students prepare throughout the entire internship to give a final presentation to a wide audience. Intern presentations serve four major purposes:
- They give interns an opportunity to practice their presentation skills.
- They get the word out about project work and general possibilities for future internship work.
- They create a positive and professional feel for the future of sustainable campus operations.
- They are a way of fostering a community of interested parties on campus.
When planning final presentations, try to attract a wide audience, including a cross-section of college or university affiliates. This may help you win new champions for campus sustainability and potential funders for future projects. Cultivate a professional atmosphere and make it a low-waste event to be consistent with the sustainability mission of your program.
Preparing your interns for the presentation is key. Review their presentation content in advance, linking internship results together in a meaningful way. Whenever possible, interns should refer to one another's work to emphasize the links to the overall concept of campus sustainability and operations efficiency. Plan a practice session to provide interns with feedback on presentation style and prepare them for the question-and-answer period.
Questions from the audience may stir interest in new or extended projects, enabling the program manager to get a sense of prospective funders for future internships. At all times, the manager should be ready to back up interns in answering these questions as he or she will have a better sense of the overall concepts and extended vision of the student internship program.