Study of Intern and Trainee Exchange Program Indicates Significant Benefits for Participants and U.S. Economy

ROCKVILLE, MD — EurekaFacts, an independent market research and analysis firm, conducted a comprehensive study of the Intern and Trainee programs, two visa categories within the State Department’s Exchange Visitor Program (EVP). The Intern and Trainee programs allow international candidates to temporarily live in the United States, participate in educational or occupational training with host organizations, and experience American culture.

The Alliance for International Exchange, an association of nearly 90 international exchange-implementing organizations, commissioned EurekaFacts to conduct a thorough review of the Intern and Trainee programs. The assessment included a comprehensive review of the programs, a survey of over 3,000 program alumni, and interviews and a survey of over 1,300 host organizations.

Key findings show that the program conveys significant benefits to the U.S. in terms of public diplomacy:

  • Nearly three quarters (73.1%) of participants state they developed a much more positive or more positive opinion about the U.S. in general after their program experience.
  • Three quarters (75.6%) participants developed a much more positive or more positive opinion of the American people.
  • Nearly all (95.7%) of participants state that their experience in the U.S. was very good or good.
  • Nearly all (95%) participants feel that the program provided them with practical skills and expertise.

Intern and trainee participants leave the program with greater regard for the U.S., the American people, and the American way of doing business.

Additionally, key findings show that the program conveyed significant benefits to U.S. host organizations:

  • The majority (84.5%) of host organizations consider the program important to their business.
  • Three quarters (75.3%) of host organizations reveal that exchange visitor participants broaden perspectives of current staff through exposure to different cultures.
  • The majority (71%) of host organizations indicate that the program helps staff develop intercultural communication skills.
  • If the Intern/Trainee program was no longer available, over half (56.5%) of respondents state that this would have a moderate or major negative impact on their organization.

The Intern and Trainee programs allow host organizations to accomplish specific business tasks or projects, support diversity, improve intercultural skills, and gain exposure to new and innovative international perspectives.

The analysis suggests that Intern and Trainee participants supplement the existing American workforce rather than compete with American workers for existing jobs. In 2017, participants contributed more than $600 million to the US economy.

The study was led by EurekaFacts’ Chief Business Officer Paul Schroeder, MA; Malinda Rhone, PhD; and Chief Executive Officer Jorge Restrepo, MGA, following the international quality for market, public opinion, and social research ISO 20252, to which EurekaFacts is certified. Read the EurekaFacts Intern and Trainee Report.

 

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About EurekaFacts
EurekaFacts is a full-service market and social research firm in the Washington, D.C. area. We help leaders understand and shape successful programs, communications, and brands through data collection and advanced analytics. Since 2003, we have collaborated with government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and corporations to answer their research questions and business objectives. EurekaFacts is ISO 20252 certified, the highest quality standard in market and social research.

About the Alliance for International Exchange
The Alliance for International Exchange (formerly Alliance for International Educational and Cultural Exchange) is an association of 90 nongovernmental organizations comprising the international educational and cultural exchange community in the United States. Founded in 1993 after a merger of the International Exchange Association and the Liaison Group for International Educational Exchange, the Alliance serves as the only collective public policy voice of the exchange community.