Overview
An important part of WDI’s mission is to provide opportunities and support for student international projects at the Ross School of Business as well as the other schools and colleges at the University of Michigan. To that end, WDI provides high quality, action learning opportunities for University of Michigan graduate students to work with international organizations, while at the same time providing meaningful business assistance and support to those organizations.
WDI summer internships are located in emerging market countries and involve full-time work on projects that are most needed by the host organization. Projects are well-defined substantive business-related projects with large, medium, or small organizations – both for-profits and nonprofits.
WDI offers two types of Internships:
- WDI-Initiated – These internships are with organizations identified by WDI and typically fall within one of WDI’s initiatives which include: Scaling Impact (Base of the Pyramid), Healthcare, Education, Performance Measurement, or Financial Sector Development.
- Student-Initiated – These internships are with organizations identified and contacted by the student and may include development-oriented NGOs or social enterprises. The organizations must be doing innovative work in emerging market economies and be relevant to one of the five WDI Initiatives. Learn more here.
Applicants must be enrolled full-time in a Master’s-level degree program at the University of Michigan and returning in the Fall following their summer internship to complete their program of study full-time. Ideal candidates must demonstrate:
- Commitment to the William Davidson Institute’s mission and focus
- Excellent academic and professional record
- Ability and willingness to be flexible in dealing with ambiguity and open to new experiences
- Appreciation for regional business practices and cultural nuances
- Ability to work with all levels of management and staff operating in a different cultural and business environment
- Ability to build relationships and team oriented
- Superior communication skills (verbal and written) and cross-cultural sensitivity
- Strong initiative and can-do attitude
- Critical thinking and creative problem solving
- Previous international development or business experience and knowledge of a foreign language are desirable, but not necessarily required.
Individual projects will have additional specific requirements and qualifications.
Global Impact Internships
Abt Associates
Acumen Fund
Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere
Identifying Synergies from Portfolio Companies to Control Operational Costs
GE Healthcare
Grassroots Business Fund
Integrated Development Foundation
MHealth Ventures India
Pfizer
Support for International Change
Technology for Tomorrow
TechnoServe
Abaarso Technical School
CARE Peru
Clinton Health Access Initiative
Concordia Welfare & Education Foundation
Providing Recommendations on Tax Laws for Bhutan
Endeavor Indonesia
GE Healthcare
Global Entrepreneurship Program Indonesia
Grameen Foundation
PATH – Non-Pneumatic Antishock Garment
PharmaSecure
Program for Appropriate Technology in Health
Program for Appropriate Technology in Health – Non-Pneumatic Antishock Garment
Study of Information Flow and Referral System for Hospital and Surrounding Health Centers
Simpa Networks
Start Up! India
The Quito Project
Village Capital
VillageReach
Evaluating Student Microloan Products and Providing Recommendations on Scaling Student Microloan Program in Jordan
Wello
Zagaya
Abt Associates
Designing Financial Products for Women-owned SMEs
Clinton Health Access Initiative
Druk Holding & Investments
Global Alliance for Legal Aid
Conducting Due Diligence of Portfolio Companies
Grameen Foundation
Conducting Cost Effective Analysis and Baseline Surveys for Crop Yields
International Labour Organization, Community-Based Enterprise Development
Mercy Corps
PharmaSecure
Identification of Customer Market for New Medical Device for Indian Market
Program for Appropriate Technology in Health – Malaria Project
Identifying Factors that Influence Patient Empowerment and Review of Internal Communications
Simpa Networks
Conducting an Assessment of Opportunities and Risks that Social Enterprises Face in Myanmar
VillageReach
Building Partnerships with Universities for Student Microloan Program
Wello India
Identifying Business Models for Private Sector to Serve Low-Income Populations
Baxter Healthcare
Clinton Health Access Initiative
Conducting Impact Assessment to Understand How Microfinance Can Help Victims of Typhoon Haiyan
Global Water Challenge
International Labour Organization
Krishi Star
Land O’Lakes International Development Division
Conducting Valuations and Due Diligence of Portfolio Companies
Not For Sale
Nuru Energy
Simpa Networks
SNV Netherlands Development Organization
Sproxil
VillageReach
Wello India
World Vision International
Zagaya & JLM Pharmaceuticals
Facilitating Staff Retreat and Creating Framework for Decision-Making for Hospital
Recommendations on Achieving Profitability for Hospital