by Ursula Zarate
News Reporter
Some University of Houston students have discovered a unique way to complement their academic educations and improve their chances of finding jobs upon graduation.
They participate in AIESEC-Houston, an on-campus group that offers interested students internships working for companies not in the Houston area, but in 87 countries around the world.
AIESEC, which is the French acronym for the International Association of Students in Economics and Business Management, is a completely student-run organization with 820 chapters worldwide focusing on preparing students for the growing international workplace.
"I think the international exposure helped me become a more productive leader and taught me how to deal with other people's work ethics," said senior finance major Travis Baughman, an AIESEC member who completed an internship in Poland last summer.
Baughman decided to look into AIESEC membership after hearing about the group from his father, one of the founders of the UH chapter in the '60s.
AIESEC-Houston was recently honored with an award for the most improved local committee for 1996 because of its dedication to recruiting top companies in the area to invest in creating student internships.
The companies are approached as potential customers who may want to bring in a talented student from another country to offer an international perspective on business.
Shell, Pennzoil and Price Waterhouse are just a few of the companies that have formed partnerships with AIESEC to provide in-house internships.
"Our organization is unique because we run like a small business, serving our customers and interacting with the business community on a daily basis," said AIESEC-Houston president Scott Smith. "We all learn by doing."
Smith, a senior Russian studies major, added that not all AIESEC members are business majors. "We currently have a few members that are majoring in communications and foreign language."
AIESEC attracts a diverse group of students who want to gain leadership skills and improve their understanding and ability to interact with different cultures.
Members also act as a reception committee to the international trainees working at companies in Houston, giving members a special opportunity to meet students from other countries.
"My internship at a 'Big 6' accounting firm in England gave me a more open mind and showed me that the way we do business in the United States is not the only way to do things," said UH alumnus and former AIESEC member Deepak Gidvani, now a certified public accountant for the City of Houston.
Those AIESEC members who pursue an internship abroad must go through an evaluation process to match their interests with an appropriate job and company. Sometimes the process can take months, but most students would agree that the overall experience is worth the wait.
Ana Rodriguez, a management information systems major, started her internship search in February and hopes to find a job specializing in computers.
"Many companies have an expanding international dimension and are looking to hire people with related experience," said Frank Kelley, director of academic advising at the UH College of Business Administration.
"An internship through AIESEC provides the perfect opportunity for students to gain global awareness, which is attractive to employers."
Anyone wanting information on AIESEC-Houston can call 743-4927 or visit the group's office in Room 102G, Melcher Hall.