American University is in the process of implementing Workday for Finance, Budget, Human Resources, and Payroll with a planned go-live date of January 2024. To support this implementation, Tracey Hennemann, Workday Executive Lead and the Assistant Vice President for Application and Data Services for the Office of Information Technology (OIT), proposed creating a comprehensive multi-semester internship program that would allow students with any major to gain marketable real-world experience in Workday.

The AU + Workday Internship program formally launched in January 2023 welcoming seven interns and one intern lead. Candidates work directly with the AU project team, university stakeholders, and our implementation partner Deloitte

Program Objective

The university recently launched the AU + Workday Internship program to offer students an opportunity to gain practical experience in Workday Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software. The program is a yearlong internship that allows students from different majors to collaborate with the AU project team, university stakeholders, and Deloitte. The program's primary objective is to give students the opportunity to build and utilize marketable skills and receive hands-on experience in a real-world setting while supporting the implementation of Workday software at AU.

"What better way to give back to the AU community than creating an internship that allows students to develop skills in a leading software application like Workday,” Hennemann said. “This experience gives these students an advantage when seeking career opportunities after graduation."

Challenges That Necessitated the Implementation of the Project

American University has always been committed to providing students with the best education and learning experiences. Like any other organization, however, the university faces challenges that need to be addressed to ensure it runs smoothly. One of our challenges was the need for an integrated system for finance, budgeting, human resources, and payroll. Before implementing Workday ERP software, these functions were managed through different systems, leading to data silos, inefficiencies, and inaccuracies. Consequently, the university needed to effectively monitor its financials, budget, and payroll processes, leading to potential compliance risks.

Approach for the Internship

To address these challenges and support the implementation of Workday ERP software, Hennemann proposed a comprehensive internship program that would allow students to gain practical experience in Workday. To ensure the program's success, Hennemann and her team set clear objectives, designed a comprehensive program structure, and established a selection process that allowed students to apply for internships. The program was open to students from all majors, and applicants had to demonstrate their interest in Workday ERP software, their willingness to learn, and their problem-solving skills. After the selection process, the students received training on Workday, and they were assigned different tasks to work on.

"When we were thinking about resources to support the project, I just made sense to include our best resources, our students, as part of the project team,” Hennemann said. “They are fast learners and highly motivated to build marketable skills, like Workday, to get ready for the workplace."

Achievements

The AU + Workday Internship program was launched in January 2023 and has already made a significant impact. The program has provided seven interns, and one intern lead, with valuable experience and skills in Workday ERP software. The students have worked on various projects, including data conversion, testing, configuration, and change management, and they have gained marketable skills and hands-on experience that will prepare them for the workforce.

"Working with a diverse team of interns has taught me the value of harnessing individual abilities and cultivating a collaborative environment that promotes open communication and idea exchange,” said intern lead Ahmed Tijani, Kogod/MBA ’24.

OIT is also better positioned for the future, as the program has allowed it to develop a pool of skilled students who can support the ongoing maintenance and development of the Workday ERP software.