The internship serves as a cornerstone of the LGO dual-degree program, which focuses on theory being put into practice to solve real-world problems for industry partners. LGO students bring a unique perspective to organizations by using their engineering skills to define problems and analyze solutions, coupled with their business acumen developed through the Sloan curriculum.
Zoom in and click on the pins to see more details about LGO internship projects.
Internships at partner companies provide the industrial "laboratory" for students to conduct thesis research while delivering solutions for the sponsoring business units. Partner companies develop business-critical projects in areas including product and process development, forecast and strategy, lean manufacturing and operations, and supply chain logistics – and they have high expectations for deliverables.
Locations for internships are as varied as the projects. U.S. sites can be found on both coasts, several western states and the Midwest. Ten percent of partner companies are in the Cambridge area. Many U.S. internships involve travel to multiple company sites during the project.
Internships at international locations have ranged from 20-30 percent of the total over the past three years. Countries have included Argentina, Brazil, Costa Rica, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Poland, Peru, Spain and Switzerland.
The internship comprises 26 weeks of on-site work. Typically, students work directly with line supervisors, but they are also exposed to executive champions and sponsors. Internships offer numerous leadership opportunities, often driven by the students' initiative. Learning to lead by building trust and influence are critical skills developed during the internship and are used by LGO graduates throughout their careers.
There are two internship project reviews held at MIT — Midstream Review halfway through the internship period and Knowledge Review at the end, just before the final semester of classes — where all students present their projects to their classmates, faculty advisors, and company representatives. Many students create cross-industry collaborations based on similar issues and approaches to their projects. Internships also act as a career springboard by offering an important means of making connections.
