You’ve already scoped and defined your project, selected a project theme, and considered objectives for your intern(s). To build on your project summary, we recommend you consider the following guidance to ensure your Bath Insights intern is as successful as possible.

Plan the intern’s role

We recommend you draft a role outline including:

key tasks and responsibilities
expected outputs
skills the intern might develop

Objectives

What do you want the intern to achieve?
How does this align with departmental or University goals?
Are the goals realistic given the intern’s experience and the 8-week timeframe? Remember Bath Insights are intended for students with minimal or no prior work experience

Achievements

What would a successful intern look like and implement by the end of the internship?
How will you measure success? Through deliverables, feedback, or observed growth?
Consider both tangible outputs (e.g. reports, presentations, prototypes) and personal development (e.g. confidence, communication, initiative)

Team involvement and support

Assign a project supervisor and a secondary contact
Ensure someone from the team is in the office with the intern Monday–Thursday
Arrange weekly check-ins between the project supervisor and the intern, these should be at least 30 minutes long
Plan for informal support (e.g. shadowing and team introductions)
Feedback throughout – not just at the end of the internship

Timeline and structure

Draft a weekly timetable with tasks and objectives
Consider what a typical working day may look like for the intern

Resources and access

Ensure the intern has access to:

a desk and equipment (including a laptop so that they can work remotely on Fridays)
IT systems (email, shared drives, software)
any required training (e.g., data handling, safeguarding)

Common pitfalls to avoid

Overscoping (this will result in the intern feeling overwhelmed by unrealistic expectations)
Underscoping (there is a risk that the intern finishes early and is bored)
Leaving interns isolated or without direction (these are first- and second- year students, in possibly their first experience of a professional environment. They will need support)
Forgetting the interns are learning – they will ask questions and make mistakes. This is a chance for them to grow and build resilience

Manager guidance on how to plan a Bath Insights internship

You’ve scoped and defined a project, selected a project theme, and considered objectives for your intern(s). Build on your project summary with this guidance.