Katherine Marples visits a marina near Eutin, Germany, to advise its Hafenmeister, or harbor master, on how to improve the marina for tourism. Marples interned at three different businesses in Eutin, beginning with a development firm.

For more than 30 summers, students from Kansas University and local high schools have traveled to Eutin, Germany, one of Lawrence’s sister cities.

But this summer signaled the start of something new: internships.

Although the internship program had been around since the late ’80s, it attracted little interest.

Now, the program is starting to reach its potential. This summer 10 interns traveled to Eutin and worked in several areas, including finance, engineering, journalism and teaching.

Jim Morrison, Kansas University business professor, said the department started expanding the sister-city exchanges a couple of years ago. With the help of the Rotary Club in Eutin, the program significantly increased the number and variety of internships.

Katherine Marples, a Kansas University student, interned in three Eutin firms. She said one reason she chose the experience is because she sees international communication and networking skills as becoming increasingly important in the future.

“German and many European students study English and usually at least one other language from the time they are in grade school,” Marples said. “We are often almost 10 years behind by the time we start learning a foreign language in high school.”

She said exchange programs and internship programs at least give students the opportunity to improve language skills and gain international exposure.

Joe Cunningham, a KU doctoral candidate, said language and international exposure are part of the focus, but he added that internships abroad are not the same as simply studying abroad.

“Study abroad programs do not always allow for interaction in a professional setting, so an opportunity like this is unique,” Cunningham said. “It is also a chance to make personal and professional contacts.”

Organizers of the program also are working to bring Eutin interns to Lawrence. In the 16 years before 2009, only three young professionals from Eutin had come to Lawrence. However, in the past year, the city has hosted two interns.

Morrison said he hopes to increase interest and expand the program even further for next summer.

“It’s great on a résumé to show that you have been in another country and to show you know a language,” Morrison said. “It gives them a definite edge in the job market.”