Sophomore students at MIT collaborate with alumni mentors within a vocational and leadership development program.
The Team Training Workshop (TTW) underneath MIT's Undergraduate Practice Opportunities Program (UPOP) serves as the cornerstone event for students, drilling them through an immersive, summer-camp-like experience filled with team-building exercises and mentorship.
UPOP is a year-long academic course directed at MIT sophomores, catering towards their professional growth and readying them for summer internships or other professional ventures. This program was initiated 21 years ago with the recognition that MIT students receive top-notch technical instruction but lack opportunities to enhance their soft skills.
"I embarked on UPOP because... I aspire to enter the industry, and I feel the need to develop not only technical skills but also interpersonal skills and teamwork skills with other individuals around my age – peers I'll likely work with," shares current UPOP student, Isa Liggans, majoring in electrical engineering and computer science.
Throughout the UPOP program, students engage in workshops geared towards skill-building and one-on-one coaching. The journey starts with four milestones in the fall – resume and cover letter creation, networking, internship search, and practice interviews. In the spring, students attend workshops on professional communication, project planning, navigating microaggressions, and feedback management.
In addition, UPOP offers access to an exclusive employer network, providing connections to a plethora of networking and employment opportunities.
The liminal period between semesters is bridged by TTW, an intensive, experiential learning opportunity where students are grouped into small teams mentored by professionals from diverse industries, mostly MIT alumni. These teams work collaboratively on exercises designed to build the essential skills they'll need to excel in the workforce, regardless of their MIT courses. TTW offers an excellent blend of professional development, camaraderie, and good old-fashioned fun.
The UPOP staff is supported by a dedicated group of mentors who invest considerable time and energy to assist UPOP students, many of whom return for years, traveling from afar.
"The positive experiences I had as a UPOP student, coupled with the coaching support I received from UPOP staff that aided me in securing future internships and even full-time roles, ignited my desire to give back as a mentor," says Molly Tracy '16, a mentor and 2016 UPOP alumna. "I continue to find it incredibly rewarding to witness students evolving in skills that I consistently see as being key to professional success. This is especially true for me as a Milestone Mentor. I get to observe students who I've worked with over the course of the fall semester thrive at TTW. Here, they gain clarity on their career aspirations, take the first steps to networking, or boost their confidence to work in a team. I eagerly await my return next year!"
Mentors serve as team leaders, providing advice and guidance on workshop activities and beyond. They also facilitate roundtable discussions on diverse topics, such as negotiating job offers, maintaining core values in chosen careers, the nuances of various industries, and launching one’s career ahead.
"Working with a mentor offers a more practical approach to teamwork and collaboration," remarks Aaliya Hussain, a current UPOP student majoring in management. "And I believe my mentor has significantly aided in connecting us as a team better and fostering understanding and camaraderie among team members. Furthermore, it's fascinating to hear the perspective of an experienced individual who has navigated various team dynamics."
TTW is separated into several training modules, largely led by MIT faculty and alumni, and concludes with a team presentation.
The event kicks off with the Skyscraper module, allowing students to bond with their teammates and compete to construct the most functional structure using foam, pencils, and tape. Students then learn about building an effective team, the impact of different thinking and learning styles on teamwork, and the art of negotiation through role-playing exercises.
They explore the importance of creating consensus during technical specifications for a new app, practice their elevator pitches as part of a UPOP staff-led networking presentation, and hone their presentation skills in an engaging session with coach and former professional actor Peter Bubriski.
"This was an enriching experience for me, as I aspire to create high-performing teams that take on amazing projects and build groundbreaking products in the future," expresses Eric Shen, a current UPOP student majoring in artificial intelligence and decision making. "So, in a way, this workshop provided a sneak peek into what I get to look forward to – a chance to collaborate with diverse team members, identify their strengths, and collaborate on projects that make a difference."
The tasks and skills students acquire during these modules prepare them for the team project that's unveiled at the TTW onset. Teams are tasked with devising a sustainability plan for a new green dorm on MIT's campus while addressing stakeholder requirements and staying within budget.
Throughout each day, teams are allotted work time on the project, resulting in a culminating presentation to a panel of mentors serving as judges at the final day's showcase. The goal is for students to evaluate the facts presented, devise effective solutions, and utilize newly acquired skills in teamwork, creative problem-solving, and communication.
"I believe that the most important aspect of TTW is the chance to put your learnings into practice and reflect on the experience, allowing you to recognize what you've gained," says Sasha Horokh, a current UPOP student majoring in mathematics. "It's one thing to think you understand something; it's another to experience it and realize how it applies."
UPOP organizes an employer networking event following the second and third sessions of TTW, allowing students an additional opportunity to practice the skills they've honed throughout the training modules and team projects. Current UPOP students and all UPOP alumni (current juniors and seniors) are invited to attend, granting access to a multitude of companies and industries. Dozens of employers, including many MIT alumni, participate, providing students with an excellent chance to network with professionals in their desired field.
In essence, TTW is a demanding yet highly advantageous experience for both MIT sophomores and alumni. It embellishes resumes, fosters connections, and delivers a lasting learning experience that wouldn't be attainable outside UPOP.
As a mentor once said, "I joined TTW in search of understanding what type of engineer I wanted to be. I left yearning to comprehend what type of person I aspired to be."
- UPOP students engage in skill-building workshops and one-on-one coaching, focusing on resume and cover letter creation, networking, internship search, practice interviews, and professional communication throughout the academic year.
- TTW, an intensive, experiential learning event under MIT's UPOP, groups students into small teams mentored by professionals from diverse industries, offering personal growth opportunities and essential skills for career success.
- Mentors serve as team leaders, providing advice and guidance on workshop activities, facilitating roundtable discussions on topics like negotiating job offers, maintaining core values, industry nuances, and career launching.
- The Skyscraper module at TTW allows students to bond with teammates, learn about effective team-building, and practice negotiation through role-playing exercises.
- Students devise a sustainability plan for a new green dorm on MIT's campus during TTW, addressing stakeholder requirements and staying within budget, helping them practice creative problem-solving, teamwork, and communication skills.
- TTW culminates with a team presentation to a panel of mentors, allowing students to evaluate facts, devise effective solutions, and utilize newly acquired skills in teamwork, creative problem-solving, and communication.
- After the second and third sessions of TTW, UPOP organizes an employer networking event, granting students access to a multitude of companies and industries, further honing their network building and interviewing skills.
- Isa Liggans, a current UPOP student, aspires to enter the industry and develop both technical and interpersonal skills by participating in the program.
