Overview
How does income influence the overall health, and livelihood of a community? According to leading experts in the field, there is a direct correlation between income inequality, physical and mental illness, and lower life expectancy. In addition, gender inequality in the workplace means that on a global average women receive a 23% lower income pay than men working the same job. Join UNC Charlotte’s Social Economic Development Virtual Career Accelerator to begin your career journey in this complex and diverse field. You’ll gain practical experience and industry insight working with experts and local and international organizations around the world.
COMPLETE REAL PROJECTS
Throughout your experience you’ll be completing one project each week that helps a local organization solve an actual problem. Since we work with real partners, real, valuable projects will be assigned to you. This means that the types of projects you could work on will vary. We aim to match you as closely as possible with an organization and a task that aligns with your personal career goals. See below for some of the projects you could work on during your experience.
HOMELESSNESS MONITORING
Help a local organisation learn how they can prevent and eliminate homelessness in their community. Conduct research into effective solutions and propose suggestions to the organisation for how they reduce homelessness.
VOCATIONAL TRAINING PLANS
Increasing vocational skills can help to improve access to income. Work with a local organisation to set up lesson plans for groups, such as youth, women or those with disabilities. Create lesson plans to support learning computer skills, English and other vocational skills.
BUSINESS RESOURCES FOR ENTREPRENEURS
Work with a local business incubator that specialises in working with aspiring entrepreneurs from low-income backgrounds. Work with one of the local entrepreneurs to create a business plan. You might also work with them to create funding proposals and marketing materials.
Example of a Typical Week
Career path Insight
Gain insight into your chosen career path and engage in discussions with leading academics, professionals, local experts and your fellow participants, when you take part in live chats and lectures on a range of topics.
Local
immersion
Explore the customs, languages and cuisine of another culture in order to reach a deeper understanding of the country by attending lectures about a local cultural context or environment, led by community members or an area expert.
Project
Work
Find solutions to some of the challenges faced by real organisations such as local NGOs and social enterprises. You’ll do this by conducting research, engaging in discussions and proposing a potential solution.
Career development
Learn about your potential career journey ahead from a professional in your field of interest. Take part in workshops that will assist in career development, and receive coaching from your dedicated internship supervisor.
Dates & Costs
Full Time
Cost
Part-Time
Cost
*The cost of each UNC Charlotte Virtual Career Accelerator includes two weeks of introductory online learning material which students complete before the experience. Additionally, it includes the cost of an optional, post-experience peer-reviewed final project. *There is an opportunity for students to join UNC Charlotte and complete a one-week virtual career accelerator without any pre- or post-learning. The cost of this is $1695.
3 Online Courses Included
UNC Charlotte participants will also complete our successful flagship online program; the Foundations in Sustainable Development program, which includes three online courses.
– Careers in Sustainable Development
– Leading Teams for Emerging Leaders
– Introduction to Community Development
– Introduction to Scientific Conservation Research