In partnership with International Programmes and Distance Learning, the LSUA Career Center has joined forces with Interstride, an interactive platform designed to address the career needs of international students in Louisiana and across the United States. This collaboration means that LSUA’s international students can now access Interstride’s extensive database of job and internship opportunities by simply registering with their LSUA email.
Interstride’s platform is a game-changer for international students. It’s not just a job search tool but a comprehensive resource that guides students through the complexities of Curricular Practical Training (CPT), Optional Practical Training (OPT), and H-1B visa requirements and opportunities. This unique feature streamlines the job search and internship process, helping students find positions where they are more likely to be hired. The platform also offers a wealth of resources, including webinars and courses on career development, resume building, job search strategies, and US immigration pathways. It fosters connections among international students, alumni, and like-minded individuals at LSUA, creating a supportive community where students can share experiences and advice based on their needs, interests, and goals.
Co-founders Christian Eder and Nitin Agrawal travelled to the US to further their higher education, and that’s when it all began. They became good friends in UC Berkeley’s graduate program and learned their experiences moving to the US were similar. From career to immigration, like most international students, they had to overcome many obstacles in their student journey. A determination to alleviate some of these difficulties and hurdles for other international students led to the idea of Interstride over dinner with Berkeley friends in 2017. The company aims to close the opportunity gap for international students.
Beth Palmer, LSUA Assistant Vice Chancellor of Holistic Education and Career Development, stated:
Like Handshake, Interstride is another platform helping our online and on-campus international students acquire internships and jobs. It also removes the anxiety and challenges of qualifying for these positions in Louisiana and the United States.
With the announcement of this collaboration, LSUA reaffirms its commitment to providing international students with the resources and tools necessary to thrive academically and professionally and to create a warm and encouraging atmosphere for them.
LSU of Alexandria is committed to providing undergraduate students with the education, skills, development and other resources needed to establish the foundation for their future success. It creates a welcoming environment that includes critical thinking, experiential learning, civic engagement and community partnerships. The university is a unit of the LSU System and operates under the auspices of the Louisiana Board of Regents.