graphic with global learning participants

U21 Sustainable Micro-internships

Overview

The Universitas 21 (U21) Sustainable Micro-Internships Program is a two-week micro-internship where student groups will be tasked with providing a solution to a real-life United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)-related challenge, which will be pitched to senior stakeholders within the organization at the end of the program.

Not only will you form quick partnerships with sustainability-minded students from a variety of academic disciplines around the world, but you will also challenge your abilities, while developing key skills enabling you to thrive in the modern workplace.

Program Description

  • Each two-week micro-internship will run at different times to allow you to participate around your academic and other commitments.
  • The internships involve two 2.5-hour live online sessions at the start and end of the two-week program. The rest of the project work is online and can be asynchronous to allow flexibility around your other commitments.

2025-2026 Program Options

  • November 28–December 12, 2025—SDG Focus: TBD
  • January 9–23, 2026—SDG Focus: TBD
  • January 30–February 13, 2026—SDG Focus: TBD
November 28–December 12, 2025—SDG Focus: TBC
  • Micro-Internship 1: Compulsory live sessions: December 1 and December 10, 7:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. PST
  • Micro-Internship 2: Compulsory live sessions: December 1 and December 11, 9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. PST
January 9–23, 2026—SDG Focus: TBC
  • Micro-Internship 3: Compulsory live sessions: January 19 and January 28, 7:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. PST
  • Micro-Internship 4: Compulsory live sessions: January 20 and January 23, 6:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. PST
January 30–February 13, 2026—SDG Focus: TBC
  • Micro-Internship 5: Compulsory live sessions: February 2 and February 11, 9:00 p.m. – 11:30 p.m. PST
  • Micro-Internship 6: Compulsory live sessions: February 3 and February 12, 6:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. PST

What Students Are Saying

"On our most engaging day, I left for classes and breakfast, calling my section of groupmates back in the evening to work on our proposal poster. We worked and conversed for a few hours; then, we communicated via text messaging to the rest of the group for feedback and polling until we hung up for the next week's call. Though our interaction was minimal/infrequent, the quality of time spent together efficiently forged a connection through personal and academic tethers.” Maya Dhani, Undergraduate Student, Genetics and Genomics.

Program Benefits

This is your chance to test your ability to deliver results in the workplace. This is a short, fast-paced and intensive way to develop and practice the skills and ways of working that employers are looking for. 

You will develop many key employability skills, including:

  • Agility – your ability to adapt to new environments, to grasp topics outside of your academic specialty and work with difference.
  • International Collaboration – first-hand experience of working across different time zones, languages and cultures, bringing together global knowledge to deliver results for an employer.
  • Influence – your ability to build trust and solve complex problems quickly.
  • Presentation Skills – your ability to clearly convey complex information to your stakeholders.
  • Teamwork – your ability to work with a new and globally diverse team to deliver a solution. 

Throughout the program you will receive guidance from Common Purpose to work as a team and focus on sustainable solutions. You will also be given access to U21 Community where you can continue to work remotely between sessions to finalize your solution pitch.

Program Agenda

  • Day 1
  • You will receive the challenge brief for the problem you will be working on and receive a virtual introduction from Common Purpose and U21. You will also receive information about the team you will be working with.
  • Days 2-3
  • You will start complete independent research around the topic of your challenge, the host, and the organization.
  • Day 4
  • In a 2-hour live session you will have the opportunity to meet your host employer and team members via Zoom and start to create your plan for responding to the challenge. You must attend the Day 4 and Final Day live sessions to complete the program and apply for the micro-credential.
  • Days 5-13
  • You will work with your Team to innovate your solution and create your presentation for your senior stakeholders. It is up to you how, where and when you work on this with your team to collaborate around your other commitments and various time zones. This is your opportunity to bring together your differing academic, regional and personal expertise to make change for a more sustainable future.
  • Final Day
  • In this live Zoom session, each group will present their solution to the host employer and receive feedback. To conclude the micro-internship, you will be supported to reflect on the experience and how you used the opportunity of working with your team to develop key skills. 

    Participants who complete the program by attending both live sessions and contributing to their group’s solution and presentation will have the opportunity to complete a written reflection on their learning and skills development, and will receive the U21 Leading Change micro-credential. 

Program Cost

FREE. This exclusive, free opportunity is only available to students at U21 member universities and is open to students of all disciplines, undergraduate or graduate students.

Eligibility

  • Open to UC Davis undergraduate and graduate students of all disciplines and levels.
  • Must be at least 18 years or older.
  • Must be available during compulsory live sessions of the selected internship

Application Details and Deadlines

  • Application open: early October
  • Deadline: November 13, 11:59 p.m.

Contact Information

Staff Photo

Chelsey Hawes

Senior Coordinator, Global and Intercultural Programs
Global Learning Hub, Global Affairs
chawes@ucdavis.edu