Central College Abroad

Internships/Service-Learning

Hanging out in Vienna Internships and service-learning projects for academic credit prove an invaluable complement to classroom work for students spending either a semester or a full year in Vienna. In addition to enhancing your résumé, they also provide you with yet another opportunity to integrate into Austrian society.

Internships/service-learning projects typically require the student to work between 10 and 20 hours per week. They can carry up to four semester hours of credit and are graded as pass/no record. Placements are for credit only, not pay. Additional written work may be required throughout the semester to complete the work experience. Because of the competitive nature and difficulty in establishing certain internships, placement cannot be guaranteed.

Internship/Service-Learning Listings
The following lists internships/projects that students have done in the past and some of the skills students are required to have. If you would like an internship/project in a field not listed, we encourage you to contact Central College Abroad.

Business and Business Related (and other)

American Express: American Express is an international credit card company that was established in 1850 in New York City and now operates in 130 countries around the world, including Austria. An internship with American Express in Vienna gives the student an opportunity to observe and participate in the daily work of an international business. Tasks range from compiling consumer data to organizing completed credit card applications. Number of credits for each course will vary.
Denkstatt: Denkstatt is an environmental and management consultant agency specializing in sustainable development, efficiency and process management. Founded in 1993, it has grown to be the largest environmental consultancy in Central and Eastern Europe and has many of Austria's most renowned companies as their clients. Denkstatt offers four services: management systems, regional management, environmental costing, and waste management. The ideal intern will be a business major who is interested in consulting work, familiar with various computer programs and research databases, and capable of translating from German to English.
FACTLINE Krisper Fabro Harnoncourt OEG: Factline is one of Austria's young and innovative companies developing solutions for the world of interconnected knowledge. The Factline Community Server (FCS) is an extendable content and community management system. It allows users to communicate with each other, to publish and network information. Project teams can coordinate on FCS platforms, groups of clients can be attended to and topics can be presented. In addition factline offers content services (analysis, consulting) and a portal for information communities (www.factforum.com). Further information can be found at http://www.factline.com. Factline offers an internship in marketing/planning. The ideal candidate will be flexible and dependable, able to work with little supervision and open to the challenge to work in various areas. Interest in and experience with the internet, general computer literacy (word, excel, preferably also graphic programs), organizational talent and teamwork capabilities are required features. Possible areas of work include translation of marketing texts, graphic development of product presentations, assisting with preparations for professional fairs and conferences.
Kinder Museum: This is a wonderful opportunity to have first hand experience with museum work centering on children. The director of the museum will assign the intern to different supervisors to get the full picture of an active museum. The student will work mostly behind the scenes and help with administrative work. Students with excellent German language abilities will have the opportunity to work with school classes visiting the museum. This is the first children's art museum in Vienna. The director had spent time working at the Metropolitan Museum in New York
Marketing Department at the Konzerthaus: This new internship provides the interested business / music student with the unique experience to work in the marketing department of one of Vienna's most famous music venues, the home of the Vienna Symphony. The marketing departments activities range from developing a marketing profile for a concert series to creating the posters and holding press conferences. As a very busy marketing department in an "arts" environment this internship demands flexibility and enthusiasm of the intern. Computer skills are required.
Archives for Resistance Fighters during World War II: This is a great opportunity for a history major interested in WWII from an Austrian perspective. The intern will be assigned to a supervisor working on a specific research project. The intern might have certain research duties or editing and translation work from German to English. A present such project has the student translating some essays on 400 immigrants to America from Austria during WWII.
Greenpeace: An internship with Greenpeace gives the student the opportunity to observe and participate in the daily work of an international non-profit organization working in the environmental field. The tasks range from organizing rallies to data entry, doing research, editing material for brochures and flyers, and translation work. Computer skills are an asset and an interest in environmental issues is essential.
Global 2000: Global 2000 is a non-profit, environmental protection organization and acts as the Austrian branch of the international organization, Friends of the Earth.

Some examples of things that interns have done while interning at Global 2000: translate documents (such as campaign plans and strategies, pamphlets and letters) from German into English; read the climate bills, acts or plans of the Netherlands, Ireland and the United Kingdom, analyze these and make suggestions for Austria’s upcoming climate bill proposal and present findings to the climate team at Global 2000; search for EU directives on development aid in foreign countries; and help at an international nuclear conference hosted by Global 2000 by registering attendees, giving out informational material, and taking minutes on some of the “nuclear workshops.”

No prior German experience necessary. The supervisor works with what experience and interests the intern already has and gives assignments accordingly.
Institut für den Donauraum und Mitteleuropa (IDM): As an Austrian academic institution, the Institute for the Danube Region and Central Europe sees its task in carrying out research projects on the social, ethnic, historical, political and economic problems of the Danube region and other parts of Central Europe and in presenting these projects via lectures to an international expert audience, but also to the interested public in general. One of the most important functions of the Institute is its role as a source for information and documentation on all aspects of the Danube region and the Central European states. An intern's duties range from assisting in the organization of conferences and meetings to editing English texts and working on documentation. An international politics or communications major as well as students with a thorough interest in the region and good organizational skills may apply for this internship.
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA): The intern at the IAEA will be assigned to the Department of Public Information. The intern will be responsible for the editing of many of their publications about the positive use of atomic energy in the world today. The interested student will need excellent computer and English editing skills. The student may be a communication, political science, or international affairs major. The intern will have the opportunity to attend certain staff meetings and conferences held within the Agency. Emphasized are computer skills.
International Progress Organization (IPO): The IPO is a consulting agency for the United Nations based in Vienna. The IPO strives for peaceful coexistence among nations of the world. The IPO concerns itself deeply with basic human rights, with particular attention to the cultural traditions, as well as to the political and ideological systems. A communication or political science or international studies major might apply for this internship. Emphasized are computer skills.
SOS Mitmensch: SOS-Mitmensch is an Austrian NGO for the propagation of human rights. Their fields of engagement are the integration of refugees, fighting racism and working towards the development of the civil society. The interested student would be working in their Vienna headquarters and would be able gain first hand experience in a very successful NGO as well as advance his/her knowledge in the field of human rights.
United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL): The United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) is the core legal body within the United Nations system in the field of international trade law. UNCITRAL was tasked by the General Assembly to further the progressive harmonization and unification of the law of international trade in the private sector. A position with UNCITRAL is available to students with a thorough interest in law and excellent computer skills. Research may be required and a basic understanding of a legal library system is necessary. Organizational skills are also a must.
United Nations Media Center Internship at the International Atomic Energy Agency: This internship offers students with an interest in international relations an exciting semester at the United Nations in Vienna. Although the media center is under the budget of the IAEA, all 4,000 employees of the United Nations use the center. The center offers the student intern contact with a very international staff. Students with an international relations, communication, computer, or library sciences major might apply. Emphasized are computer skills.
Marketing Department at the Konzerthaus: This new internship provides the interested business / music student with the unique experience to work in the marketing department of one of Vienna's most famous music venues, the home of the Vienna Symphony. The marketing departments activities range from developing a marketing profile for a concert series to creating the posters and holding press conferences. As a very busy marketing department in an "arts" environment this internship demands flexibility and enthusiasm of the intern. Computer skills are required.
Wiener Staatsoper (Vienna State Opera): As one of the oldest theatrical institutions with an unbroken record of performing in the German-speaking world, the Vienna State Opera offers a variety of opportunities for interns. Students can attend opera rehearsals, premiers, and production presentations as well as observe and participate in the audition process. The Vienna Opera House has a number of departments in which an intern can gain work experience. Other duties consist of documenting operas, previewing and screening applications, and compiling audition information. General office work is also required.

Interns should have advanced German conversation skills and a sincere interest in Opera. A thorough knowledge of Operatic History and the world’s Opera Houses is necessary, as well as a strong background in Vocal Studies and Theater. Previous experience in an opera house is encouraged, but not required.
Teaching English in an Austrian Gymnasium: For an English, English as a second language, or education major this is a great internship in an Austrian school. The intern is assigned to an English teacher and assists the teacher in daily lessons. As a native speaker, you will be asked to give special presentations on life in America, the school system, the political system, and many other topics. The intern also has the opportunity to learn how the Austrian school system operates. This is also a wonderful opportunity for a student wanting to become a German teacher, to learn more about Austrian children and teenagers.
Teaching English in an Austrian Primary School: This internship is especially interesting for students who are interested in working with younger children and experiencing different approaches to teaching. Our partner school uses the Montessori teaching method for most of its classes and thus enables the interested student to gain first hand experience in this approach. The student works closely with the teacher as the native language assistant.
Tutoring at the Lernzentrum: This internship is designed for the student with a major in English, sociology, or education, and is based at the Lernzentrum in the 16th district of Vienna. The student tutors students from the public education system in Vienna; elementary, junior high, or high school levels in English. Many of the students are foreign students from former Yugoslavia, who fled the war. The students have difficulties with German as well as with the disciplines taught, such as English. Our students tutor the children in English as well as other subjects. Some of the students are Austrians also having learning difficulties. Although the first major skill needed is some experience in teaching English, the experience is also very good for a student studying sociology, trying to continue their education in another country in another language. This is a very popular internship with our students. The intern should have some experience in teaching English and enjoy working with children.
Caritas: Caritas is a non-profit organization helping those in need, both nationally and internationally. Much of their most important work is done locally, such as establishing a soup kitchen for the homeless, etc. This position is available to students interested in community service and in working with the less privileged.