GET minor program
University recruits students to participate in GET minor program
10:18 a.m., Oct. 3, 2012--In an effort to extend undergraduate education, the Global Enterprise Technology (GET) minor program, part of the University of Delaware’s partnership with JPMorgan Chase, is now recruiting students from across all majors to apply for either an eight-month or two-semester hands-on experience.
The GET curriculum focuses on five key areas, including enterprise systems knowledge and skills; large-scale software development and project management; data management and modeling; problem-solving skills; and virtual teamwork, collaboration and communication.
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Mark Serva, associate professor in the Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics, will lead the program, now in its third year at UD.
“The most important characteristic student applicants can have is a desire to learn more about technology,” said Serva. “All the participating companies are dedicated to using technology. It’s a very rigorous program, but it’s also extremely rewarding – around 85 percent of our interns have gotten job offers.”
This year, the GET curriculum focuses on global technologies, including large-scale systems and projects. Students will work on virtual teams with other students and colleagues on the other side of the globe. Students will also learn teleconferencing, project management, database and business process analysis tools through the experience.
“With a global economy, it is essential for employees to learn to manage working in larger companies with multiple time zones,” said Serva.
“Students who participate in this curriculum are more attractive to larger companies because they get the context of what it’s like to work in a large organization,” explained Serva.
The GET minor program begins January 2013, when students come to campus for a 10-day residency to prepare for the internship. Afterward, students have the option to report to their jobs in New York City, Ohio, Syracuse or Delaware. For the first time, the GET program this year is also offering internship opportunities in London.
For students who choose to live on campus as part of the GET experience, UD also opens the doors to the JPMorgan Chase Innovation Center, located in Purnell Hall.
Students enrolled in the GET program choose one of two options: the “Immersion Experience,” an eight-month paid internship during which students earn 21 credit hours and between $23 and $27 an hour; or a two-semester consulting project.
Both program options allow students to maintain full-time status to graduate on time.
As part of the experience, students have the responsibility to work full time, to work on the innovation project assigned, and to take classes delivered to their respective location sites.
According to Serva, the timeline for the GET minor program is extremely tight.
“Once a company offers a job to a student, they are leveraged to accept,” said Serva. “On occasion, if a student decides to relocate, companies will work to make housing accommodations.”
Originating from an agreement at Syracuse University four years ago, the program has since been adopted by other universities like Ohio State and Rutgers. Participants in the program work with a variety of companies, including JPMorgan Chase, Eaton Corporation, Safenet, Sysco, Nationwide Insurance and Ernst and Young.
Article by Danielle C. DeVita