On June 3, NVTC, in collaboration with James Madison University’s X-Labs—an innovation hub where students, faculty, and external partners collaborate across disciplines to tackle real-world challenges—and Ellucian, hosted a dynamic Reimagined Internship Visioning Session to explore the future of student internships. Designed by JMU X-Labs, this forward-thinking event challenged traditional models by emphasizing deeper company engagement, student cohort learning, and real-world problem solving.
This first-of-its-kind gathering brought together representatives from 10 NVTC member companies to learn about an innovative internship framework that starts on JMU’s campus with a problem statement from an industry partner. A design-thinking course built around that challenge is co-taught by JMU X-Labs faculty and the sponsor, leading to a prototype by semester’s end.
These courses evolve into immersive summer internships, where students continue developing their prototypes inside sponsoring companies. Reflecting the cross-functional nature of today’s workplaces, the model brings together students from diverse disciplines such as computer science, design, business, humanities, and the arts.
Ellucian, a global leader in higher education technology, played a pivotal role in launching this initiative. In 2024, the company partnered with JMU X-Labs to co-develop a cutting-edge internship model blending classroom learning with industry-led challenges. Their success demonstrated the power of academia and industry working hand-in-hand to deliver mutually beneficial outcomes: students gain meaningful, hands-on experience, while employers build a stronger, more engaged talent pipeline.
At the session, Ellucian shared insights with NVTC peers on how they structured their collaboration with JMU X-Labs—offering a roadmap for others. Attendees then participated in a mini design sprint to experience JMU X-Labs’ innovation process, followed by consultations.
At NVTC, we are deeply committed to preparing and empowering the next generation of tech talent. We value our academic partners and were thrilled to bring this innovative internship opportunity to our members. If your company is interested in partnering with JMU X-Labs to co-design a custom internship experience—starting with project-based learning and culminating in immersive summer internships— click here to learn more about JMU X-Labs Reimagined Internship.