Virtual Global Internship in South Africa
The international experience that gives you the most complete cultural and professional experience from home.
Remote work isn’t the future way global business will function – it’s the present. With a virtual internship in South Africa, work on projects for an international organization from your home base while adding a global perspective to your professional work experience. Apply your academic studies to real-world projects, gain hands-on experience, expand your skill base, and learn what it’s like to work remotely across time zones and cultures. Through comprehensive support every step of the way, this program is specifically designed to ensure your success. With guided modules on building your self-brand, working remotely across cultures and owning your career, you will improve your communication, collaboration, and critical-thinking skills while building meaningful professional relationships.
What to Expect:
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Language: English
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Average Courseload: 140-230 contact hours U.S. credit is available
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GPA Requirement: 2.5
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Visa Requirements: NONE Required!
Highlights:
- Earn a Working Virtually Across Cultures digital micro-credential and up to 3 credits!
- Build your self-brand and learn to network remotely through guided modules.
- Guidance in turning your virtual internship into your next job or internship.
- Working through internship successes and challenges with peers and mentor in structured seminars.
Internship Placements
Business & Economics - Virtual internships available in South Africa
Below are a few sample Business & Economics - Virtual placements undertaken by past participants. There are many more possibilities, as each placement is customized. Contact an advisor to learn more!
Other countries with Business & Economics - Virtual internships
Economics Intern at Startup Accelerator
Support tech entrepreneurs in vibrant Cape Town with work tailored to your skillset. Contribute to a leading accelerator focused on high-growth startups in digital finance, connectivity, data and behavioral analytics, and enabling technologies while learning about how a startup incubator functions.
International Market Research at Superfood Startup
Learn more about the plant-based health food industry in South Africa as you help a startup explore international markets. Conduct market research, SWT analyses, and build potential customer lists for a growing company already leading in its category and looking to expand to the U.S., Europe, and South America.
Intern at High-Growth Startup Accelerator
Hone your business skills at a leading accelerator focused on high-growth startups in blockchain, connected devices, payment solutions, capital markets and asset management, integrated supply chain, e-commerce, and more. Depending on your skills and experience, you’ll support innovative South African incubator businesses in development.
Hospitality Tourism & Event Planning - Virtual internships available in South Africa
Below are a few sample Hospitality Tourism & Event Planning - Virtual placements undertaken by past participants. There are many more possibilities, as each placement is customized. Contact an advisor to learn more!
Other countries with Hospitality Tourism & Event Planning - Virtual internships
Intern at Day Tour Provider
Hone your online marketing skills while learning a ton about the tourism industry and small business operations. Work with a leading South African provider of day tours in Cape Town as you support online lead generation, product marketing, and other administrative hospitality tasks.
IT & Computer Systems - Virtual internships available in South Africa
Below are a few sample IT & Computer Systems - Virtual placements undertaken by past participants. There are many more possibilities, as each placement is customized. Contact an advisor to learn more!
Other countries with IT & Computer Systems - Virtual internships
Intern at Technology Solutions Firm
Put your (literal) networking skills to use at a leading South Africa technology firm that also operates internationally. Projects will be tailored to your skillset, but work may include supporting customer troubleshooting issues around network management, data security, and backup and recovery.
Marketing Advertising & PR - Virtual internships available in South Africa
Below are a few sample Marketing Advertising & PR - Virtual placements undertaken by past participants. There are many more possibilities, as each placement is customized. Contact an advisor to learn more!
Other countries with Marketing Advertising & PR - Virtual internships
Digital Marketing Intern at Mental Health Org
Sharpen your wide range of digital marketing skills – social media, digital workshops and presentations, and fundraising – as you support an emerging organization working on mental health needs in Cape Town, including prevention through education with at-risk youth. Additional tasks include website maintenance and copywriting.
Marketing Intern at Youth-serving Nonprofit
Hone your social media and fundraising skills as you support an innovative nonprofit in Cape Town. The organization’s mission is to create an environment for young women to overcome adversity and experience personal and social development. You’ll help concept and implement new fundraising campaigns while sharing the org’s work on social platforms.
Digital Marketing at Platform for Female Entrepreneurs
Support marketing operations at an innovative platform that connects, inspires and supports existing and aspiring female entrepreneurs. Work directly with the operations manager in Cape Town, managing the different chapters, helping with marketing, PR, and events organizing. Potential opportunity to work with recently launched incubator program.
Marketing Intern at Urban Environmental Org
Flex your social media marketing skills (or web design and programming) at an organization dedicated to urban greening and environmental education. Bring your professional communication skills to leverage a worthy and sustainable cause – building urban ecological corridors in Cape Town!
NGOs and Non-Profit - Virtual internships available in South Africa
Below are a few sample NGOs and Non-Profit - Virtual placements undertaken by past participants. There are many more possibilities, as each placement is customized. Contact an advisor to learn more!
Other countries with NGOs and Non-Profit - Virtual internships
Research Assistant for Human Rights Lawyer
Intern remotely for a human rights lawyer in Cape Town, gaining exposure to the challenges associated with protecting and exercising one’s human rights in South Africa. You’ll conduct policy research, prepare briefs, and learn more about the legal system in South Africa. Projects may also include business development.
Intern at Youth Athletic Non-Profit
Bring a host of skills to this unique nonprofit in South Africa that aims to empower girls through football. So many projects are ideal for remote work, like grant research, fundraising, proposal writing, graphic design, and curricula development for social emotional learning. Additional projects may include planning football events and clinics, workshop planning, stakeholder engagements with partners, and staff recruitment.
Program Details
Your Virtual Experience
The Experience
Once you apply and submit your $90 fee, you’ll have a Skype interview with your CIS Abroad Program Enrollment Coordinator to learn more about your work experience and goals so we can ensure the best-fit internship placement for you in South Africa. We’ll also make sure you get pre-program support to ensure you’re feeling great about your virtual experience.
Online seminars are a core part of your virtual internship. CIS Abroad teaching assistants, under the supervision of the Vice President of Academic Affairs, provide ongoing support, guidance, and reflection sessions that help you understand your work experience in a cross-cultural context. Modules include Building Self-Brand, Working Remotely Across Cultures, and Own your Career.
About Our Partner
HOST ORGANIZATION SUPERVISOR CHECK-INS
Look forward to “face-to-face” meetings with your host organization supervisor in South Africa at least once a week to ensure you’re on the same page and get additional feedback and direction on your project. This will also help you practice key skills like facilitating a remote meeting and working with remote colleagues in a cross-cultural setting. Additional, daily communication with your supervisors is expected – you’re already a pro at technology platforms, so this will be second nature to you.
Itinerary
Whether you are taking this internship for credit or not, online seminars are a core part of your virtual internship in South Africa. We have an awesome itinerary planned for you, from a cultural orientation before you start working, to how to best work remotely in the country and city you chose, to meeting our site directors around the globe, to how to make sense of it all and know what skills you gained. All in six weeks!
See below for the 7 online seminars that span your 6-week experience. Check out the Academics tab for our comprehensive Virtual Global Internship course syllabus that includes more details on each seminar.
Our course is structured around 7 main elements:
1. PRE-PROGRAM: CULTURAL ORIENTATION
You’ll participate in an online, interactive cultural orientation with CIS Abroad staff, giving you tools for success working within that culture.
2. PRE-PROGRAM SEMINAR: THE FUTURE OF REMOTE WORK
You’ll explore each of the four Remote Work modules, learning the fundamentals of working in a remote environment and across cultures, before reflecting with other virtual internship participants.
3. MENTORED, HANDS-ON LEARNING
Guided by your on-site supervisor, you’ll work on specific tasks and assignments that meet the needs of your internship organization.
4. INTERNSHIP SEMINAR SERIES: BUILD YOUR SELF BRAND
This online seminar offers an opportunity to reflect on your personal drivers, values, and how you want to be perceived as a professional entering the workforce.
5. INTERNSHIP SEMINAR SERIES: WORKING ACROSS CULTURES
To be successful in navigating both international and domestic cultural differences, you need an understanding of what culture is, how it affects your interactions with others, and what skills you must develop in order to be successful intercultural leaders.
6. CROSS-CULTURAL DEBRIEFS
CIS Abroad Site Directors will facilitate live cross-cultural debriefing sessions each week
7. CONCLUDING SEMINAR: OWN YOUR CAREER
You’ll be guided through an individual reflection to help you articulate your experience in order to increase employability.
Virtual Intern for Credit
With a Virtual Global Internship, you will work on a project for an international organization from your home base in the U.S. while adding a global perspective to your professional work experience. Apply your in-class knowledge to real-world meaningful work, gain hands-on experience, expand your skill base, and learn what it is like to work remotely across time zones and cultures.
Coursework
You will participate in the Virtual Global Internship course, developed by our Vice President of Academic Affairs, Dr. Jennifer Engel who has been teaching culture and career-oriented courses online for more than 10 years. This course is made up of 7 seminars.
Contact hours
Depending on the number of hours worked per week, each six week internship comprises a total of 140-230 contact hours. This means that you may be able to combine this internship with university coursework, a regular job, or another internship.
Credit
3 credits per six-week internship is available through our partner, Plymouth State University. To learn more about how to earn credit, please read our Virtual Intern for Credit information. Credit may also be available through your home university.
Micro-credential
All participants in this program are eligible to earn a Working Remotely Across Cultures Microcredential at no extra charge! Make sure you opt in at the beginning of the course.
Why Virtual Life in Cape Town
Cape Town is one of South Africa’s most stunningly beautiful cities. The impressive Table Mountain rises over the city, where cable cars offer tremendous views of the South African coastline. Cape Town is one of three capital cities of South Africa—the other two being Pretoria and Bloemfonteim—and serves as the legislative branch of government. The city has also played host to major sporting events, including the semifinal matches of the 1995 Rugby World Cup and the 2010 FIFA World Cup. If you’re a history buff, visit the digital gallery on restitution, hosted by District Six Museum. While you’re planning your someday trip IRL, learn about the penguins who call the region their home.
Live The Local Life
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Move it, move it:
Learn about vibrant South African dance like gumboots and Zulu. Your Virtual La Vida Local engagements will teach you how.
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Learn to cook:
Beef Bobotie and Pap are truly South African dishes. We’ll teach you how to prepare them like a true South African.
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Explore South African culture:
Virtual events are more popular than ever - soak up all kinds of cultural experiences to form a connection with your colleagues.
What's Included
Inclusions
- CIS Abroad advising support throughout placement process and duration of internship experience
- Support pursuing university credit (optional)
- Pre-Departure and Post-Program seminars to set you up for success:
- Building Self-Brand Module
- Own Your Career Module
- Working Remotely Across Cultures Modules and facilitated online seminars throughout internship
- Daily/weekly check-ins with host organization supervisor
- Internship Placement Confirmation Guide, which lays out the project work and outcome of the remote internship
- Working Virtually Across Cultures digital credential
- Virtual La Vida Local Online Series
Site Director
Travel Tip:
About:
On completion and graduating with a National Diploma in Travel and Tourism, Sonya decided to travel the world. Participating in a cultural exchange program led her to Vail, Colorado, where a 4-month working visa allowed her to experience what being away from home was all about. Upon returning home, Sonya worked for many years in both the airline industry and tourism in Cape Town, and has now ventured into self-employment by being appointed as an Accredited Assessor for the Tourism Grading Council of South Africa. Excited to be able to tap into her own experience in working abroad, Sonya enjoys offering support and guidance to those embarking on new journeys, forming new relationships, and showing off her beautiful home country – as well as spending time with her husband and two fur babies.
Your Support Staff
Add-Ons
Add to your program for no extra fee!
As a virtual intern, you have the opportunity to earn a micro-credential from CIS Abroad! Having a highly visible addition to your resume or LinkedIn profile can help you stand out from other job seekers. It’s a fast-track way to identify demonstrated skills that make YOU a more valuable contributor to an organization.
Learn more about the Working Remotely Across Cultures micro-credential.
HOW TO SIGN UP
If you’re interested in earning this micro-credential, please message your instructor by the beginning of the second week of your virtual internship. In your online classroom, see the Events tab in the left sidebar menu for the exact deadline!
Dates & Prices
- Application Deadline: Apr 15
- Arrival: June 5
- Departure: July 14
CIS Abroad reserves the right to alter fees at any time due to currency fluctuations and/or fee changes made by our partner universities.