Digital internships- OU students share the benefits

Posted on 9 September 2025 • Career planning, Jobs, internships and work experience

Open University students Helen, Emma and Antonina completed internships with Marketing Advisers for Schools (and DES digital platform) and share why they recommend an internship as a way to progress your career. They developed their skills, from communication to problem solving and taking initiative, and put what they learned from OU studies into practice. Explore the benefits of undertaking an internship with our guide Internships through The Open University.

 

 

1. Gain practical experience

I now have tangible examples of experience, which will support me in my career and also shape which route I might want to go down. – Emma, OU Business Management graduate

Student interns have found several benefits from gaining further knowledge and improving their skill set. As a former employee of Marketing Advisers, OU Business Management graduate Helen, has gained valuable project management skills that she can demonstrate to employers in the future.

I would recommend internships because they provide you with necessary practical experience that many employers are looking for. – Helen, OU Business Management graduate

Find work experience to gain practical experience you can put on your CV.

 

2. Develop employability skills

Working in a team helps to bounce ideas off of each other, which creates something even better than you first thought – Emma, OU Business Management graduate

The interns have developed a variety of essential skills during their internships and while working on the DES digital platform, including communication skills and teamwork. They have been able to appreciate the value of collaboration, enhance their problem-solving skills and make new connections. Moreover, the interns have developed their initiative and commercial awareness, applying their effective time management, self-management and resilience gained from their OU studies.

 

3. Put theory into practice

The internship has allowed me to apply my theoretical knowledge in practice and opened the door to a career in marketing. – Antonina, OU Business Management student

All three interns have been able to utilise their theoretical knowledge and transfer that into real life practical experience. Antonina has blended her current academic learning into developing her communication skills, and she has built on the digital and information literacy skills from her OU study by utilising digital platforms in a professional setting.

Read further about Antonina, Emma and Helen’s experiences.