International Internship Program
The international internship is the heart of the International Educational Development program. The internships are possible through partnerships with international agencies, international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and universities.
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The Internship Experience
The internship is designed as a summer hands-on field experience (between 10-12 weeks) with an international organization involved in development work outside the U.S. Internships allow our students to apply what is learned in the classroom to a fieldwork experience. Internships are productive work opportunities where our interns come prepared with skills that match the position openings.
Our International Partners
Some of our partners include the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, Action Aid, and Save the Children. Many of these organizations have a commitment towards addressing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Penn GSE is fortunate to have a special relationship with UNESCO – the one and only of its kind in the U.S. – that places our students in UNESCO offices around the world.
Our students have had a wide variety of international internship placements, including in: Bosnia, Botswana, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Ghana, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Krygyzstan, Laos, Madagascar, Malawi, Morroco, Mozambique, Nepal, Nicaragua, People's Republic of China, Peru, Philippines, Rwanda, Samoa, Senegal, South Africa, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Uganda, and Zimbabwe.
Highlights from International Internships
“From June through October, I worked at the UNESCO Regional Office for Eastern Africa with a focus on sexual and gender-based violence. I participated in a policy retreat to rewrite the National Gender Policy on Education; I represented UNESCO at meetings of the Joint Programme for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment; and I worked with the International Association of Women in Radio and Television (IAWRT) to help plan the curriculum they used to train law enforcement. My internship gave me invaluable hands-on experience with research, composition, networking, policy, recruitment and outreach, planning and budgeting.”
~KATELYN KNAPP, UNESCO, Nairobi, Kenya ‘14
“I interned at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development in Paris, France. My main task was reviewing the Inclusive Innovation in Education survey and helping to draft a chapter for a report on inclusive innovations for government officials and innovation implementers. Throughout my time at the OECD, I was encouraged to attend forums, meetings, and conferences. I had a chance to hear from former Vice President Al Gore on environmental sustainability, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan on education policy, and the OECD Secretary General. This was an amazing opportunity.”
~ADAM ROTH-SAKS, OECD Center for Educational Research and Innovation, Paris, France '14
“I interned with the Aga Khan Foundation in Tanzania. AKF has introduced Reading to Learn, a methodology to strengthen English and Kiswahili literacy instruction in primary schools throughout Southern Tanzania. I was based in both Dar es Salaam and Lindi, where I completed a qualitative research study, conducted focus groups, and participated in workshops, in order to provide AKF with recommendations for the adaptation, implementation and sustainability of Communities of Practice in primary schools in Southern Tanzania.”
~LAURA CONRAD, Aga Khan Foundation, Tanzania '14
Internship Opportunity
To prepare for the internship, students take EDUC 695 Proseminar in International Educational Development. This two-semester course (.5 credits each semester) must be taken in the Fall and Spring prior to the internship. Students are required to submit three sets of reports while on internship.
Travel Support and Administrative Support
For qualified students in good academic standing, Penn GSE will offer support that covers international travel, insurance, and part of local support; local agencies may provide in-kind and/or cash support (including, for example, per diem, local travel, etc.). We work closely with Penn Global, particularly with respect to issues of visas, risk, insurance, health, travel, and logistics.
For administrative support or more information about the internship program, contact Dr. Ameena Ghaffar-Kucher.
