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Web site to help combat “brain drain,” encourage college students to stay in area
The upDayton Young Creatives Summit Kickoff Tuesday included a sneak preview of a website designed to help the community combat brain drain by retaining the best and brightest from area college.
DaytonINTERNS.net, an initiative designed to promote the hiring of college-age students by Miami Valley businesses, non-profits, and governmental bodies, will officially launch in the spring, according to John Jones, chair of upDayton’s intern committee.
Jones, a University of Dayton adjunct political science lecturer and internship coordinator, said the site will allow area businesses, agencies and organizations to post internship openings in one centralized area. Those postings will then automatically be added to career services websites for several area colleges.
Partner colleges and universities include Urbana University, University of Dayton, Wright State University, Wittenberg University, Wilmington College, Wilberforce University, Central State University, Cedarville University, Sinclair Community College and Edison Community College.
Jones said it will be a one-stop site for intern seekers. His committee is now seeking feedback from area businesses.
The website will also include 500 pages of useful information on topics ranging from salaries for interns to where they should sit in the office.
Inspired by similar sites for Columbus, Philadelphia and a few other cities, Jones said the goal is to expose college students to the area’s workforce and encourage them to plant roots here.
“Maybe I should choose Dayton after graduation,” he said.
According to an upDayton 2011 survey, students who interned in Dayton during their college years were 68 percent likely to stay in the greater Dayton area after graduation. Students who did not have an internship in Dayton were 32 percent likely to stay in the area.
UpDayton was created to spur economic growth in the Dayton region by giving young people greater influence in the direction of the Miami Valley. It’s 2012 Young Creatives Summit is planned for April 27 at the Dayton Art Institute.
The intern website is a product of upDayton’s 2011 summit.
What do you think? How can the Dayton area retain skilled youth?
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Permalink | Comments (3) | Post your comment | Categories: Business interest
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By youngind-town
January 25, 2012 3:02 PM | Link to this
As an educated male in his young 30’s I frequently revisit my decision to stay in Dayton. I have a master’s degree in business admin, but find that most people in Dayton don’t seem to value it. Instead of creating a new website focused on the people you want to keep here the site should focus on changing the attitudes of the people who are already successful here. Its not that anything negative has happened to me… its just that opportunities in Dayton are the one’s you make… not the one’s you find. No one in town takes chances… the business leaders are unwilling to discuss new ideas. At least that has been my experience in town.
By Ryan
January 26, 2012 8:15 AM | Link to this
This is great!
By NoName
January 26, 2012 10:03 AM | Link to this
I could not in good conscience recommend that a college grad stay here…