The Externship platform was established by a team of Harvard Business School graduates, with a goal to help college students in China through leveraging our professional background and skills. Externships (derived from Latin externus), i.e. experiential learning opportunities offered to allow students short practical experience in their fields of study, have been a popular practice in the West for at least decades. Usually lasting one week during the summer or winter break, Externships allow students to experience the real world and have a taste of what their future careers would be like.

College students in China are facing a wealth of opportunities, yet most of them lack the general business skills expected of them. Since the vast majority of these students do not have siblings and their parents did not grow up in a market economy, they generally lack mentoring and practical experience in a professional environment. How to apply for an Externship? For professionals and business leaders who believe in the importance of having a great mentor during school or their first career, they can now start caring about the young generation, their alma maters, and the future of China by sponsoring a young student through our free and comprehensive platform! How to sponsor an Externship? Our program aims to provide the maximum number of positive matches between Externship providers and students in needs of such opportunities.

According to a research report on China’s labor market by McKinsey¹, China is facing a talent shortage paradox despite its fast-growing class of college graduates. Many of these lack general business skills and understanding of what it takes to succeed in a global corporate environment. On the other hand, companies/organizations in China have difficulties in finding suitable talents, especially in the service sector. We do not expect to offer a one-step solution; instead, we would like to start a bottom up approach to address the situation. As Bill Gates pointed out at the Harvard Commencement this year², even passionate people stop short of taking actions due to the complexity of the problem. Like what Gates suggested to the Harvard graduates, we encourage you to turn caring in to action, let our team cut through all the complexities for you by aligning the ideal approach and technology, and start helping the college students in China today!! This little step you take will have a great impact beyond your imagination – young students who benefit from the program will start contributing to their alma maters in the future, and the beneficial cycle will go on and on.

Our platform will provide the required technology and coordination efforts for FREE, improve the efficacy of the matching processes and allow all parties to benefit from the match-ups. Please consider offering an Externship and an opportunity to share your experience with the students and register now to start caring for the young generation of China! Thank you very much for your support and time!