1. What is the Calbright Academic Project and why does it matter?
The Calbright Academic Project is a real-world, employer-partnered experience completed through the Riipen platform as part of your Calbright program.
Approved pathways are:
Cybersecurity
Data Analysis
HR Talent Acquisition
HR Learning & Development
Project Management
In this 6-week micro-internship, you’ll apply the skills you’ve developed in your coursework to an authentic project for a real organization. The experience is designed to help you demonstrate job-ready skills, practice professional collaboration, and produce portfolio-ready work with employer feedback.
2. Is this project required?
No. The Calbright Academic Project is an optional academic experience for eligible learners in approved pathways.
If you join the program, you must complete the project according to the cohort timeline and submission requirements in order to receive recognition for the experience.
3. How much time will I have to complete it?
Each project runs over a fixed 6-week cohort timeline.
You are expected to contribute approximately 20–40 total hours over those 6 weeks. This includes:
Employer meetings and check-ins
Collaboration
Independent work
Preparing deliverables and presentations
The experience is structured and deadline-driven, not self-paced.
4. What kinds of projects are available?
Projects are sourced from real employers and aligned with Calbright program outcomes. Depending on your pathway, projects may involve work such as:
Designing learning or training strategies
Developing instructional or onboarding materials
Conducting needs assessments or learning analytics
Creating engagement, coaching, or development frameworks
Analyzing processes and making evidence-based recommendations
Each project includes defined deliverables and success criteria set by the employer.
5. Will I work in a team?
Learners participate individually, with each learner responsible for their own work, submissions, and completion.
You will, however, be part of shared group chats with other learners who selected the same project, as well as a group chat that includes the employer partner. These shared spaces are designed to support communication, coordination, and shared understanding of project goals.
Even though communication happens in a group setting, each learner is responsible for submitting their own work on their individual team page.
6. How do I get started with the project?
Getting started involves several steps:
Accept your invitation to the Riipen experience
Complete any required verification steps and agreements
Attend mandatory learner onboarding
Review available projects
Self-assign to one project during the 48-hour selection window
Project selection is first-come, first-served, and projects lock once the window closes.
7. What deliverables will I produce?
Deliverables vary by project but typically include:
A project brief or work plan
A midpoint progress update
Final deliverables (e.g., strategy, analysis, framework, or prototype)
A final presentation or executive summary
Required surveys
You are evaluated by the employer based on the quality, relevance, professionalism, and completeness of your work.
8. Who will I be working with?
You will work with:
A real employer partner (company, nonprofit, or organization)
Your assigned team members
Calbright faculty or tutors (for academic support, if applicable)
Employers provide project context, feedback, and evaluation, while you manage execution and communication.
9. Will I receive feedback or a grade?
No.
Employers provide structured feedback on your deliverables and professional engagement
Feedback appears on your Riipen profile and contributes to your portfolio
Completion and reflection are used by Calbright to confirm successful participation
This is an academic experience, and professionalism throughout the project matters.
10. Will I be paid for this project?
No. The Calbright Academic Project is a for-credit academic experience, not paid employment.
However, it is designed to produce professional-quality work that you can showcase on your résumé, LinkedIn profile, and portfolio.
11. What support is available during the project?
You’ll receive support from multiple sources:
Employer partner (kickoff, midpoint review, final feedback)
Calbright faculty or tutors (program and content support)
Riipen platform support via the help (avocado) icon
A custom Calbright AI Coach to support planning, reflection, and understanding project requirements
If challenges arise, early communication is strongly encouraged.
12. How can I showcase this experience professionally?
After successfully completing the project, you will receive:
Employer feedback
Skill tags on your Riipen profile
Portfolio-ready artifacts you can share
You can include this experience on:
Your résumé
Professional portfolio
This project serves as concrete evidence of applied, real-world learning.