Peer Internship Model Inspires Creation of OAI Career Competency Collective
Student employment across the Office of Academic Innovation (OAI) has become more than an opportunity to gain work experience. Through a growing internship-based model centered on hands-on learning, mentorship and professional development, students are building skills that prepare them for careers beyond Cal Poly Pomona.
The model was built from the Career Center’s Peer Internship Program, which gives students the opportunity to work on campus while gaining daily experience assisting students, faculty and staff. During their time with the Career Center, peer interns receive training in resume review, data processing and reporting, event support, front-facing student services and other areas that strengthen their communication, professionalism and problem-solving skills.
Inspired by the success of the Career Center’s internship structure, units throughout the Office of Academic innovation transformed student positions into internships.. The shift was designed to provide students with intentional mentorship from professionals while giving them hands-on experience in their fields of interest.
Through this model, student interns are not only focused on day-to-day operations but also contributing to meaningful projects that align with their academic and career goals. Whether assisting with student services, marketing, graphic design, events or technical support, students can build skills they can carry into future jobs and professional pathways.
That foundation helped inspire the development of the OAI Career Competency Collective, a student-centered showcase that highlights how student roles across the Office of Academic Innovation connect to career readiness.
The OAI Career Competency Collective brought together student interns across from all OAI units to share their work, reflect on their growth and connect their experiences to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) career readiness competencies, including communication, leadership, teamwork, critical thinking, professionalism, technology and career development.
During the showcase, students reflected on projects completed within their units and identified the NACE competencies they developed through those experiences. Through presentations and tabling opportunities, students highlighted the projects they contributed to and explained how their roles helped them grow as emerging professionals.
Presenters also had the opportunity to earn a digital badge recognizing their participation and reflection. The badge serves as a verified marker of the skills students demonstrated through their work and can be shared on resumes, LinkedIn profiles, and digital portfolios.
Giselle Toth, a psychology major and peer intern for the Career Center, used the collective as an opportunity to highlight how data and student feedback can shape stronger campus services.
“My project focused on developing standardized, scalable surveys to better understand how Career Center services impact student confidence, preparedness, and overall experience,” Toth said. “I was inspired by the need to move beyond attendance metrics and instead use student feedback to drive meaningful, data-informed improvements. Through this project, I strengthened my critical thinking as well as career and self-development NACE competencies, supporting my goal of pursuing a career in research and data-driven strategic decision-making.”
Hands-on learning through Student Innovation Idea Labs (SIIL) helped Jose Ramirez, a management and human resources major and SIIL technician, connect his campus work to future career goals.
“Through SIIL, I discovered more than just new skills, I discovered myself,” Ramirez said. “It opened doors I never imagined and showed me that it’s never too late to pursue your passion. Now, I’m driven to turn that passion into a career working at maker spaces.”
The collective also gave Sumin Lee, a visual communication design major and marketing intern for the Office of Academic Innovation, space to reflect on how creative projects can shape both professional skills and career direction. Lee presented a case study on AKA Musique, a local music collective, highlighting how the experience strengthened their understanding of teamwork, leadership and community-centered design.
“AKA Musique has given me a plethora of opportunities to strengthen my teamwork and leadership skills in a real-life setting that I simply cannot get in a classroom,” Lee said. “I carry my artistic skills and values as an artist that I learned in my VCD classes everywhere I go, and it sets a foundation for the kind of community I want to create. My experience helped me narrow down my career goals, and I now have a clear vision of what I want in a career.”
By bringing these experiences together, the OAI Career Competency Collective helped reduce silos between student roles and demonstrated the shared value of experiential learning while supporting a broader culture of mentorship across all units.
As the initiative continues to develop, the collective will serve as both a celebration of student contributions and a model for how campus employment can intentionally support career readiness.
To learn more about the OAI Career Competency Collective and the reflections shared by the student presenters, visit the Office of Academic Innovation website or contact ai@cpp.edu.