Partnership Expands Database of Experiential Learning Opportunities
Student Opportunity Center (SOC) has joined forces with labor market analytics firm Esmi, adding the latter's job postings and internship information to SOC's database of experiential learning opportunities across the United States.
The SOC platform helps connect students with "high-quality experiential activities that bridge the gap between course curricula and workforce needs," according to the company. Combined with Esmi's job listings, labor market data and analysis of in-demand workforce skills, the platform can help institutions adjust their campus programs to meet workplace needs. Esmi's data also includes virtual opportunities, so students can benefit from experiential learning remotely during the pandemic.
"Adding Emsi's carefully vetted information about jobs and internships to our platform allows us to improve both the quality and quantity of high-impact opportunities available to our students," said Chris Freire, founder and CEO of SOC, in a statement. "Our students can now go to one place to access all types of experiences, including volunteering, events, research-projects, study-abroad, jobs and internships relevant to their interests."
"We're grateful to partner with SOC to help universities prepare students for meaningful careers by building skills outside the walls of a traditional classroom," commented Bob Hieronymus, vice president for partnerships at Emsi. "By providing real-world forums for students to build and refine in-demand workplace skills, we're bridging the divide between the academy and the workplace."
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Rhea Kelly is editor in chief for Campus Technology, THE Journal, and Spaces4Learning. She can be reached at [email protected].