Virginia Intern Day
V-TOP celebrated Virginia Intern Day on Thursday, July 25th, 2024. Virginia Intern Day is an opportunity to recognize employers who have provided robust internship programs that benefit our leaders of tomorrow and highlight interns’ contributions to our workforce.
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How?
By connecting everyone. Virginia TOP gives the right tools to Virginia businesses, students, and higher ed. The end goal is to connect businesses with students who want to learn by doing.
INCREASING OPPORTUNITY
& VISIBILITY
We help businesses, students, and higher ed share work-based learning opportunities much more efficiently.
KEEPING
GRADS
IN-STATE
We encourage graduates to live and work in Virginia by creating more high-quality opportunities.
MAKING VIRGINIA #1
FOR BUSINESS
We help fuel Virginia’s talent pipeline, an important aspect in keeping our state at the top of business rankings.
What does the data say?
Simply, it says we’re not doing enough to encourage students to live and work in Virginia after they graduate. That’s where Virginia TOP helps: to give students deep roots in Virginia’s business community prior to graduation.20%
of students entering higher education have never been employed
Source: Washington Post, 2015
<50%
of Virginia graduates completed undergraduate internships
Source: SCHEV, October 2021
>50%
of Virginia graduates said their internship helped them receive a job offer
Source: SCHEV, October 2021
THE
The
TOPconcern of Virginia businesses surveyed is access to necessary talent
Source: Blueprint Virginia 2025, Virginia Chamber of Commerce
What is everyone saying?
“Access to a talented, well-educated workforce continues to be one of the top priorities for businesses in Virginia. Through Virginia TOP, we have the opportunity to foster greater connectivity between the education institutions, and employers. Virginia TOP will strengthen the transition from learning to earning for all stakeholders throughout the Commonwealth.”
Barry DuVal
Virginia Chamber
“The Innovative Internship Program (the Program) creates a new pathway for Virginia’s students, not only to meet current workforce needs and regional economic growth, but also to enhance job readiness and higher education affordability. The Virginia Talent + Opportunity Partnership is a significant public-private partnership to help accomplish the goals of the Program and complement other ongoing efforts to increase connectivity between students and employers around the commonwealth.”
Peter Blake
Former Director, SCHEV
“V-TOP will ensure that more students have the resources they need to gain meaningful workforce experiences before graduation. Connecting more students to potential full-time, well-paying careers after graduation is immeasurably important for Virginia’s economic future.”
Hon. Siobhan Dunnavant
Innovative Internship Fund and Program chief patron
“Business and higher education leaders know that collaboration works. It creates and grows pathways from school, to college, to good jobs and careers and help ensure Virginia will continue to have one of the best workforce’s anywhere. Our Virginia Business Higher Education Council will continue to advocate for the resources needed for collaborative initiatives that work for Virginians.”
Dennis Treacy
Chair, Virginia Business Higher Education Council
“The Virginia Talent and Opportunity Partnership will position our students to lead in an increasingly competitive landscape. By improving the readiness of students, businesses, and institutions of higher education, Virginia TOP will provide the connectivity needed to build our workforce of the future.”