The eMarketing Foundation’s Practical Training Program allows students (and in some cases under-employed individuals requiring job experience) to extend the skills and knowledge that they have developed in school / college / university by applying their intellect, skills and knowledge in areas of personal interest at a business/workplace or nonprofit. To ensure that this experience will be rigorous and worthwhile, the eMarketing Foundation requires that companies and nonprofits requesting volunteer trainees to pledge to provide:
- sufficient oversight of the training to provide feedback and learning
- diverse projects and tasks aligned with the interests of the trainee volunteer
- explain the strategic rationale for projects and tasks to the trainee (how does it fit into the larger picture)
Many high schools, colleges and universities offer similar programs to students who have excelled in academia and can benefit from a hands-on working experience. Experiential learning is a teaching method that allows students to learn through direct, hands-on experiences. It can help students become critical thinkers who take an active role in their ongoing education.