V-TOP provides a range of programs, learning opportunities, and grant funding for higher education institutions. Our mission is to expand work-based learning experiences for students, help employers cultivate future talent through work-based learning opportunities, and strengthen our state’s position as a leader in business competitiveness.

Partnering with V-TOP

As a Virginia institution of higher education, there are several strategic ways to engage with our initiatives and expand your impact:

• Connect with participating employers regarding work-based learning opportunities.
• Participate in ongoing V-TOP programs and meetings.
• Apply for a V-TOP Grant or Professional Development Scholarship.
• Participate in expanded work-based learning opportunities with Teamship.

Are you a Virginia-based organization looking to integrate online, career-readiness learning modules into your curriculum, program, or internship?

Please complete this V-TOP module request form, and a V-TOP team member will contact you within 2-3 business days to confirm the required information.

 

These training modules are delivered through the Canvas learning management system.

Expanded Work-Based Learning Opportunity in Partnership with Teamship

Teamship Virginia, in partnership with V-TOP, is a virtual, synchronous WBL program open to all undergraduate students enrolled in a Virginia higher education institution. Learn more here!

Why Teamship for your students?  

• Build durable skills employers want most: collaboration, communication, and critical thinking.  
• Students gain real work experience without waiting until their junior or senior year to do a formal internship. 
• Grow your students’ social capital and professional network by working with business leaders across Virginia.  
• Help your students stand out in a crowded job market with tangible, team-based problem-solving experience.

To learn more about Teamship, register here!

The Virginia Micro-Internship Experience is part of a broader statewide strategy to expand paid work-based learning opportunities and strengthen undergraduate students’ readiness for Virginia’s workforce. Through this program, students gain equitable access to high-quality, paid, short-term micro-internships while employers tap into a diverse pipeline of emerging talent across the Commonwealth.

Benefits of Participation

Employers benefit from participating in the Virginia Micro-Internship Experience in several keyways:

• No cost to employers as all student compensation is fully funded.
• Short, project-based experiences provide on-demand support without the long-term commitment of traditional internship programs.
• Expands access to new and diverse talent demographics to build a reliable talent pipeline for future internships and full-time hiring. 

How to Get Started

• Attend a Parker Dewey webinar.
• Create a Parker Dewey employer profile.
• Review applications and hire students who meet your project needs.

Visit our VA Micro-Internship Experience site to learn more!

V-TOP has partnered with 12twenty, a data-driven platform to capture experiential learning and career outcomes. This collaboration will support Virginia institutions receiving V-TOP grants in capturing, tracking, and reporting data on student participation in work-based learning (WBL). By working together, this partnership enhances our understanding of WBL program outcomes across the Commonwealth and promotes continuous improvement in student readiness for internships and careers.

Learn more information about this partnership.

Becoming A Career Champion

The Career Champion modules are intended to provide information and tools to increase your confidence when having career conversations with students. The information framework and skills taught in the course module is designed to help you move from simply being a career influencer to being a career champion. The objective is to develop skills and practices to become a champion for students’ career success through effective guidance, mentoring, and fostering a culture of career readiness within post-secondary education institutions.  

These training modules are delivered through the Canvas learning management system. 

Developing Career Readiness Skills

Create a plan to help college students or current interns accomplish individual goals, articulate accomplishments, and shape a competency development story. 

The Curriculum Map is here to help you assist your students’ progression through the career readiness modules. Help your students learn and develop skills and talent in communication, critical thinking, technology, teamwork, and leadership to be better prepared for the workforce.

Learn more about the Curriculum Map!

These training modules are delivered through the Canvas learning management system.

Transforming Federal Work-Study 

The toolkit provides guidance and solutions as an institution makes decisions, creates policy, and overcomes regulatory barriers to transform Federal Work-Study positions.

This PowerPoint serves as an abridged version of the toolkit. The PowerPoint can be saved/modified for institutions to use, obtain buy-in, and support the transformation of Federal Work-Study.

Additional Resources

• Professional Development Scholarships-Scholarships for professional development are available to professionals whose career involves connecting students, institutions of higher education, and employers with the goal of expanding paid and credit-bearing internship and other work-based learning opportunities.
• Summer Internship Housing Resource Site- Resources that provide information about institutions in Virginia who offer housing for any college students completing summer internships in the local area.