Host a STEM intern

Internships should be structured around a clearly defined project or set of activities that deliver meaningful outcomes for the host organisation.  Projects may involve: research/scope/plan and/or implement/deliver a proof of concept, new capability, or enhancement, or other clearly defined project outcome.  

Proposed placements should meet the following criteria: 

• address an organisational problem, opportunity or area of work  

• have a clearly defined scope that can be completed within the available placement hours  

• allow the student to apply and develop discipline-relevant knowledge and skills  

• provide opportunities for problem-solving, communication and professional development  

• have a workplace supervisor with the relevant skills and/or experience to provide guidance and feedback  

• the project can be undertaken offsite from the host organisation in the case of remote/hybrid placements. 

 Before the internship: 

• Hosts are required to submit an internship proposal via the Qualtrics form, outlining the proposed project and placement details.  

• For an unpaid internship, a signed internship agreement is required. 

• For a paid internship, a signed internship letter is required, noting that a separate employment agreement is in place between the host and student. 

• Where applicable, a completed Student Placement Risk Assessment form is required for placements involving higher risk environments or activities.  

Once the internship commences: 

• An appropriate workplace supervisor to oversee student’s project work and provide on the job guidance, technical training, and access to business knowledge when needed. 

• Appropriate processes, resources, equipment, and access to relevant workplace knowledge to enable the student to undertake the assigned activities, whether onsite or remotely.

• Feedback to support the student’s assessment, including feedback at the end of the semester.

• Provide ANU with reasonable access to the student’s work and project outputs for academic assessment, subject to confidentiality, privacy and intellectual property obligations.  

Hosts may offer multiple internship projects; each project should have a distinct scope and learning outcomes. The number of interns should reflect the host organisation’s capacity to provide adequate resources, supervision, and meaningful opportunities for each student to apply and develop their skills and achieve the intended learning outcomes. 

Supervisors should have relevant organisational and STEM knowledge and provide clear project guidance, regular supervision and feedback, support with project scope and outcomes, appropriate communication and work arrangements, and a supportive and inclusive workplace environment.

Internship projects can vary in duration depending on the student's discipline and course requirements.   

• Internship Project: 90 to 180 hours.

• Science internship: 90 to 180 hours.

• Computing internship:  180 hours (15 hours per week over 10 weeks).

• Engineering internship: 240 to 560 hours depending on whether half or full year.

ANU STEM students can bring a broad range of technical skills, depending on their degree and specialisation. These skills may include programming and software development, data analysis and visualisation, modelling and simulation, engineering design and analysis, scientific research and experimentation, computational methods, systems analysis, and the use of discipline-specific tools and technologies.  

Students are trained to apply these skills to analyse problems, develop solutions and evaluate outcomes in real-world contexts. 

After internship placements are reviewed and approved, they will be advertised to undergraduate and postgraduate students across the Colleges. 

Following the expression of interest process, applications from eligible students will be provided to host organisations. 

Hosts will be invited to shortlist and interview students, and make placement offers directly to successful candidates. Hosts should then inform the STEM Hub of the interview outcome and the student’s acceptance of the placement. 

As a host supervisor, you are expected to meet with the student regularly and provide feedback on their progress and performance. You will be asked to confirm whether key project or assessment outputs meet the expectations agreed upon with the student. 

STEM internship placements may be paid or unpaid. All placements must comply with the Fair Work Act 2009 (FWA). 

Unpaid placements are only appropriate where the placement is primarily educational and meets the requirements for an unpaid student placement under the Fair Work advice. For unpaid placements, the ANU Internship Agreement must be used without alteration, including provisions regarding student ownership of Intellectual Property. 

For paid placements, the placement must be paid at the applicable minimum rate set out under Fair Work Australia, with an appropriate temporary employment agreement between the host and student. 

The host organisation and their interns may be required to complete a Student Placement Risk Assessment Form (necessary for some higher risk environments) and sign the ANU Internship host Agreement which, among other things, deals with Intellectual Property (IP), confidentiality, insurance and obligations of all parties. These documents will be forwarded to new host organisations as they engage in the Internship Program.  

*Engineering internship must be a paid placement as engineering interns will be working towards Engineers Australia Stage 2 competencies.  

Engineering practical experience placements may be undertaken overseas, subject to ANU assessment and pre-approval and compliance with applicable local laws. 

Hosts support students in gaining discipline specific knowledge and skills to an industry, research or professional problem, and guide them to deliver an outcome such as proof of concept, technical solution, research finding, analysis or business solution.

You will also directly support students in developing professional skills including initiative, adaptability, problem solving, teamwork and professional responsibility. These are all skills that students will take with them beyond their ANU degree.

At the end of the project, students are assessed across:

• professional skills development, including communication, teamwork, time management and project management
• demonstration of technical skills, including designing technical solutions, programming, analysing and solving technical problems.