Bridging Student to Career: WIDS Builds Golden Gate Internship Structure

When the Golden Gate Bridge Highway and Transportation District set out to create a professional internship program, it needed more than enthusiasm – it needed structure. With four engineering divisions, strict regulations on student inter responsibilities and scope of work, and numerous incoming internship requests, the challenge called for a customized approach. That’s where WIDS stepped in. Through DACUM facilitation and the development of detailed Job Books, WIDS helped the District design a program that bridges classroom learning and real-world engineering experience.

Organization Overview

As a marvel of engineering, The Golden Gate Bridge attracts millions of tourists—and numerous requests for engineering internships.  But the Golden Gate Bridge Highway and Transportation District lacked a formal internship program —until it contacted WIDS.  

Challenge

The District needed a comprehensive internship that would:

• Span its operation of the bridge and two public transit systems
• Connect its four specialized areas of engineering
• Account for legal and regulatory limitations for student tasks
• Include guidance documentation for interns
• Establish progress tracking methods
• Identify engineering-related regulatory codes and guides

WIDS Solution

DACUM Process Implementation

WIDS conducted four separate DACUM sessions—one for each engineering area—to identify:

• Key duties and tasks performed by District engineers
• Required knowledge, attitudes, and industry trends
• Applicable regulations, codes, and laws
• Tasks students could perform independently versus those requiring supervision

‍Job Book Development

Using the DACUM results, WIDS created a training outline for on-the-job learning—called a job book—for each engineering area, featuring:

• The specific competencies interns must meet
• Whether the competency is learned on-the-job, in related instruction, or both
• Evaluation checklists for engineers supervising the interns' progress
• Advanced skills tracking for interns demonstrating higher-level capabilities
• A rotation structure through all engineering areas with flexibility for seasonal variation

Results

The Golden Gate Bridge District now maintains a professional internship program that:  

• Aligns student learning with real-world engineering tasks performed by professionals
• Provides students with a structured pathway to engineering careers
• Offers the District a reliable pipeline of skilled talent familiar with its operations
• Integrates legal and regulatory requirements and professional development
• Documents learning for self-assessment, oversight, and college grading

By leveraging DACUM methodology and structured job books, WIDS built a strategic bridge connecting engineering students with the District, creating a sustainable model of work-based learning that will ensure the longevity of one of our nation's marvels of modern engineering.

By transforming an idea into a structured, sustainable internship program, WIDS once again proved that whatever your learning design challenge – WIDS has a solution.