Smart Internship
Smart Internship is a program that addresses real-life challenges (cases) proposed by companies or institutions. These challenges are solved by interdisciplinary teams of 5–7 students, with the entire process guided by a university supervisor and a mentor from the host organization. The activities are organized according to the Design Thinking methodology. Throughout the internship, students also may take part in additional training activities designed to enhance their communication, creativity and teamwork skills.
All Vilnius University students can participate in the Smart Internship program, regardless of their study program, level or course. The most important thing is the desire to improve, take advantage of all learning opportunities during your studies and be open to innovation.
How Smart Internship is smart?
Opportunity to gain practical experience during your studies and enrich your CV
A broader perspective on how the chosen field of study can be applied
Getting to know students from other faculties, expanding your social network
By discussing with the team and mentors, you will learn to argue, accept different opinions, and seek common solutions
You will deepen your professional knowledge and develop creativity, teamwork, adaptability and problem-solving skills
The student's journey in the Smart Internship
Participant selection and announcement of teams
Design Thinking methodology training, 12:00–18:00 (Saulėtekio Ave., Vilnius)
Internship duration. Details: Smart Internship plan
Smart Internship cases – Spring Semester of the 2025/2026 academic year
Aukok.lt
Aukok.lt invites the team to design convenient and innovative donation solutions that reduce barriers to giving, encourage recurring and long-term donations and create greater value for NGOs and corporate partners. Students will define donor profiles, map donation journeys, identify motivations, obstacles and propose diverse donation models that strengthen engagement and impact across individual and business donors.
"EPSO-G"
EPSO-G invites a student team to carry out a comparative analysis of the economic regulation principles applied by Lithuania’s National Energy Regulatory Council and how they differ from the practices of other EU countries. The team is expected to identify best practices abroad and propose what could be adopted to improve regulatory effectiveness in Lithuania.
How does the Smart Internship work?
- Students individually complete the registration form.
- The VU Career Centre selects candidates and forms interdisciplinary teams of 5–7 students.
- All teams participate in Design Thinking methodology training, which introduces them to the creative problem-solving process.
- Students sign a tripartite internship agreement.
- Once a week, at a time convenient for all team members, participants meet to discuss and carry out the weekly task.
- Every second week, the team meets with the organization’s internship supervisor to present interim results, discuss arising issues and plan further activities.
- At the end of the internship, all teams take part in a closing event, where they present their final outcome – a prototype solution to the challenge they worked on.
- Participants who successfully complete the internship receive an electronic Smart Internship certificate, and a note about the internship is included in the diploma supplement issued by Vilnius University.
Special offer
This semester, students participating in the Smart Internship are also offered the opportunity to join the “Achieve more” program, where they will develop future skills by reflecting on their Smart Internship experience.
Participants who focus on developing all five future competencies and complete their reflection through the “Achieve more” program will receive additional recognition at the end of the academic year:
- A Future Competencies Certificate.
- A certified LinkedIn badge.
- A one-on-one consultation with a career counselor on how to optimize their LinkedIn profile.
The top 5 students who submit the best reflections will also receive special prizes.
Documents and useful links
Frequently asked questions
Do my studies have to meet the Smart Internship case?
A Smart internship develops future competencies, so you can choose to do a Smart internship in an area that's far removed from your professional life.
Can a Smart Internship be counted as a compulsory internship?
With the approval of their faculty (department), if the activities and workload meet the requirements and objectives set out in the faculty’s (department’s) internship regulations and the internship course description, the Smart Internship may be recognized as the internship required in the study program or a portion of the credits allocated to the study internship may be awarded. For an individual case assessment, contact the Studies office of your faculty (department).
Can I combine a Smart Internship and a job?
The minimum involvement of a participant is 6 hours per week - 2 hours for the team meeting, 2 hours for the team meeting with the host organization representatives and 2 hours for homework. Team meetings are organized at a time convenient for all members, so if in your schedule you have 6 hours per week for new activity, you can certainly join having other responsibilities!