 The
Program for Education in Global
Stewardship
Global Internships
Available
positions / Awards / Eligibility /
Priority / Duration / Credit /
Selection process / Financial Aid / Expectations
/ Documents / Application
/ Deadline / Request Information
News: "Global
Interns report on their 2004 summer experiences"
 Click
here for sites that that can help you get started but also read the FAQ
carefully
News: 2005 Global Interns: The
following students have been awarded grants to pursue overseas
internships:
Stephanie Hannon '06, Health and Nutrition, Peru;
Robert Wilson '08, Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica; Veronica Vaca '07,
Orphanage Assistance, Chennai, India; Erin Falzareno '06, Geological
Observatory, Coldigioco, Italy; Anne Gleason '07, Medical facility,
Panadura, Sri Lanka; Halin Bareke '06, Roslin Insitute, Scotland; Afsin
Yurdakul '06, Amnesty International, Istanbul, Turkey; Allan Galis '06,
Teaching English, Thailand; Kynai Johnson '06, Journalism, Honduras;
Meredith Hibbard '06, Vienna, Austria
As part of our commitment to the responsible management of the world’s
human, economic, and natural resources, the Global Stewardship Program
provides funding for a number of students each year to engage in
meaningful internships abroad. Our
hope is that as a transnational worker you will be introduced to the
manners and perspectives adopted and employed by those working in
professional fields in different countries and cultures.
More than a career apprenticeship, Global internships are intended
to help students become future leaders and better world citizens.
Frequently
Asked Questions:
What
internships are available?
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Rather
than choosing from a pre-approved list of available internships, the
student is responsible for seeking out and proposing a specific
international internship assignment.
Students should begin by consulting with the Global Stewardship
Director. Among other
resources where you will be directed, the e-Recruiting database located on
the Career Services homepage will serve as an invaluable resource
for locating potential internships as will the Center for International
Education.
Are
there any countries I can’t go to?
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In
keeping with University policy the Global Stewardship Program will not
provide funding for students to work and study in countries for which the
US State Department has issued a “Travel Warning”.
Students should consult the State Department page regularly to
ensure that their proposed country does not appear on the list of cited
nations.
How
much are the internship awards?
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Funding:
Awards will usually not exceed $3,000 and are intended to defray only
the costs of transportation, housing, and food.
Expenses will vary from country to country, and $3,000 may be
insufficient to cover expenses in certain countries. Any unused portion of
the award must be returned upon arrival to campus or six weeks after the
conclusion of the internship, whichever comes first.
Do
I receive “pay” for the internship?
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Pay:
Some internships may offer slight compensation but most “paid
work experiences” are ineligible to receive funding.
Instead, our awards are intended to subsidize living expenses for
those engaged in unpaid internship experiences.
There are of course exceptions, and students should first consult
with the Director of the program.
Who’s
eligible to apply?
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Eligibility: Global internships are open to all W&L students
(both undergraduate and Law students) who demonstrate interest in and
appropriate preparation for such an experience.
Is
there any special consideration for who gets an internship?
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Although the program
is open to all students, preference is given to students enrolled in the
Global Stewardship Curricular program.
How
long does the internship have to be?
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Duration: Internships should be for a period of eight weeks or
longer. Interns will typically
work normal business hours (40 hours per week).
However, since work schedules and holidays differ in each country,
the main expectation is to engage in full-time employment as defined by
the norms of the host culture.
Will
I receive W&L credit for the internship?
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Credit: Internships do
not necessarily earn academic credit. They do however fulfill one
requirement in the Global Stewardship curricular program.
Some departments may award academic credit for an internship
experience (listed as 450-level courses).
Students should consult with the appropriate department head.
How
many internships are available each year?
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Typically
ten to twelve awards may be given annually along with two alternates.
Who
decides if I get an internship?
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Internships
are awarded by a committee of W&L professors and administrators.
Typically the selection committee is comprised of the Program
Director and another member of the Global Stewardship advisory committee,
along with a member of the Career Services Office, at least one student
representative, and if possible an alumnus/a.
What’s
the selection process like?
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Awards
are based on the merit of your application and interview.
The interview--which usually takes place in late March--is an
important part of the process that serves both to confirm the
committee’s reaction to the proposal and to discern one applicant over
another. (If there is an
exceptionally large applicant pool, the selection committee may decide to
limit the number of interviews granted.)
If
I’m on financial aid, won’t the award interfere with the requirement
to show “summer earnings”?
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top
Not
necessarily. Students who are
on financial aid should let the Director know early on in the process so
appropriate plans can be made.
What do I have to do in return for
the award?
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- Prepare for your experience: All
global interns must attend a pre-departure orientation session that
addresses issues of safety and well-being.
Pre-departure sessions are usually held in the spring.
A notice will appear on the front page of this site under
“Updates and Announcements.”
- Account for your
experience:
Recipients must submit a program
evaluation and a two-page (minimum) written report to the
Global Stewardship Director no later than six weeks upon returning to
campus. The
report should summarize the activities undertaken and address the
benefits received. The
report will be incorporated into the annual statement to the Johnson
Foundation and may be published in The W&L Passport.
An itemized budget should be attached to the report, detailing
use of funds along with expense vouchers, including required
receipts (expenses over $25.00).
Any unused portion of funds must be returned.
- Share your experience:
Recipients are expected to offer an informal discussion of their
experience with fellow students. Such
discussions will typically take place as class visitation, student
panels for International Education, and so forth.
What
documents do I have to get?
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Passport
and visas: The student is responsible for securing a valid passport and
any necessary visas. If you do
need a visa, a security clearance, or work permit, you must secure these
before funds can be disbursed. The
Global Stewardship program and the Center for International Education can
advise you and direct you to resources, but ultimately it is the
individual student’s responsibility to ensure that all proper
documentation has been acquired.
How
do I apply?
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The
application form is available on line.
Click
here for the Internship
Application Form
and submit by Thursday, February 24th (2005)
Return
the application form and accompanying materials listed below to Latha
Dawson, Global Stewardship Office, Center for International
Education, 21 Univ Place. To ensure that we have received
your application, please send us an
email indicating that you have submitted an
application, and we'll confirm receipt.
1.) a
résumé
2).
a 500-800 word statement of interest (also submit electronic copy)
The statement of interest serves to explain your
rationale or "why" this particular internship.. Among other
questions begin by asking yourself about your goals and how do your
objectives line up with the proposed internship duties. What
about the nature of the internship? Does it involve "stewardship"
and if so how? Finally, in addition to the brief description of the
internship called for on the form, be sure and attach a complete description
of the internship and /or documentation on the organization with which you
propose to work. If the organization has a
homepage, print out the first page of the URL and attach.
*Remember that we will
not send you to a country on the State Department Warning List, so
have a back up plan! The application asks for Choice #1 and #2.
3).
a letter of invitation from internship organization
Some
internships have an unspecified or unlimited number of positions
available. Most however are competitive and will require a letter of
invitation acknowledging that if you receive funding they will accept you as
an intern. Regardless of the type of internship, candidates should
begin working early to ensure that you have collected the proper
documentation by the time of application. At that time, attach
any documentation you have received from the organization even if your
invitation is pending.
4.)
a copy of
transcript
5.) two faculty
recommendations (may be submitted via email if professor wishes to)
6) and (when appropriate) a
language evaluation.
Not all internships in non-English speaking countries require the same
level of language expertise; nevertheless, we want to ensure that you have
the sufficient skills necessary to have a meaningful experience. In
most cases, a letter from a professor in the target language indicating what
level of communication you can sustain will suffice.
Please
note that in addition to the submitted hard copy, we also ask for an
electronic copy of the statement of interest. Reference letters may also
be submitted via email to Ms Dawson at dawsonl@wlu.edu
When
are the applications due?
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top
The application
materials are usually due by mid February for summer internships and mid March for
semester long internships.
Applications in 2005 are due
Thursday, February 24th.
How
do I get more information?
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Email the Global Stewardship Office or come by
and visit us in the Center for International Education
(
21 University Place
).
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