What it means to do a professional apprenticeship

Develop industry-specific skills and enhance your employability with GVI’s global professional apprenticeships. Taking part in a professional apprenticeship with GVI will keep you a step ahead of the rest in the conservation and sustainable development industries. 

GVI is an award-winning organisation, so when you join an international internship program with us, you can be sure you’ll be involved in a project that will make a real impact, and look great on your CV.

You can choose to join our in-field professional apprenticeship programs for a period of 4 to 24 weeks, with start dates occurring every 2 weeks. You’ll also receive extensive pre-program training including:

• an expectation group call that’ll give you the chance to meet your fellow interns, get to know the staff and prepare for your internship
• our GVI around the world presentation – which outlines our impact across all our locations and focus areas, worldwide
• GVI online leadership and specialisation courses endorsed by the University of Richmond.

But the training doesn’t end there. Any additional location- and program-specific training that’s needed, such as language courses, TEFL (teaching English as a foreign language) certifications or PADI certifications will also be provided on base once your program has started. You’ll also receive ongoing support from your remote professional apprenticeship supervisor throughout your international internship program.

The main focus of our professional apprenticeships is for you to complete practical work at a GVI base as well as a range of virtual project work with our international partners. You’ll also get the opportunity to gain insight into how projects are implemented in a variety of our professional apprenticeship locations, when you meet and collaborate virtually with other career interns, and partners, across our locations around the world.

Some of the international partners that you could work with include Save the Children, the Red Cross, the Endangered Wildlife Trust, government ministries for the environment, youth and education in various countries and the South African National Parks Board.

Participants can also choose to pay an additional fee to do an external placement. Placements can range from 4 to 12 weeks, and further develop your industry knowledge and skills, all while you gain valuable international experience in your field of choice. 

GVI’s support and involvement in your career doesn’t just stop once you’ve completed your professional apprenticeship. You’ll continue to receive support and guidance from a career mentor through two remote career coaching sessions that’ll help you take the next step in your career. You’ll also receive:

• a LinkedIn reference from your remote professional apprenticeship supervisor 
• certificates from the University of Richmond for any GVI online courses you completed 
• access to our online GVI careers course
• an employment guarantee (if your professional apprenticeship was longer than 6 months)
• preference for GVI vacancies 
• access to our carefully curated job portal that advertises vacancies in the conservation and development sectors.

If you aren’t too sure what you’d like to do in the future, or professional apprenticeships are just a bit too specialised for you right now, you can also choose to participate in one of our internship programs instead. As an intern you won’t work closely with and complete projects with external partners, but you will take on extra responsibilities at the GVI base. You might also lead surveys, program activities or workshops, or organise beach cleanups, fundraisers, and provide marketing support. 

You can also opt for a research fellowship. This program is best suited for you if you’re looking to get advanced experience in field research, or are a university student and need to conduct field-based research.