AUW s Internship Program Expands in 2012

Transcription

1 AUW s Internship Program Expands in 2012 This summer marks the third year of AUW s internship program. Through summer internship placements, second- and third-year students gain professional experience to bridge the gap between classroom knowledge and practical understanding. AUW encourages students to gain experience working with a combination of for-profit companies, entrepreneurs, and non-profit organizations. Such a cycle of internships will expose students to the work of various sectors, allowing them to make informed choices about their own career paths. This year, a total of 135 students found placements at 52 banks, corporations, NGOs, hospitals, government agencies, and research institutes in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Italy, Japan, Nepal, Pakistan, Palestine, Sri Lanka, and the United States. This level of participation represents a 31% increase from last summer s 103 students holding internships, indicating the growing popularity of the internship program. Attached is a full list of the institutions hosting internships, and where they are located. Many students interned with organizations and companies in Bangladesh, including Democracy International s Democratic Participation and Reform project, sponsored by USAID. The project is designed to work with Bangladeshi political parties as well as individual women and young people to help the parties and their constituents better communicate across the country. Ankhi Banik and Rubana Mussharat, both Bangladeshi students, found the work environment to be friendly and cooperative, and reported Rubana Mussharat (left) and Ankhi Banik (right), interns at Democracy International in Bangladesh Soumya Susan Cherian (left) and Shalu Sebastian (right) spent the summer teaching at Dr. Bansi Dhar School, a middle school in their home country of India. that they were learning many things during their internships. Two students also interned at the Daily Star, Bangladesh s top Englishlanguage newspaper. Zyma Islam and Giang Tran worked as Training Reporters, writing articles and traveling to report on stories throughout Dhaka. Giang wrote of the experience: We go to many places, interview people and write stories. Some of our works were published [i]n the daily newspapers. We are very thankful and appreciate to have this opportunity to work here. In contrast, for many students the summer internship provides a chance to experience a different culture as well as a new professional environment. JKSK (Empowering Women, Empowering Society), a Japanese nonprofit organization dedicated to women s issues, hosted five interns from Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, China, and Vietnam. These students had the chance to work in Tokyo for the summer and experience Japanese culture, while working in a field that is highly relevant to their lives and experiences at AUW.

2 Although the vast majority of the summer internships were with Asian institutions, some students ventured to Italy and the United States for their internships. Jyothi Nair and Sharon Panackal, both from India, traveled to Seattle, Washington in the United States, to work at Starbucks corporate headquarters. Jyothi and Sharon were the company s first international student interns, and their main project was to assist the company with its launch into India. They were able to advise Starbucks on this expansion based on their knowledge of their home country, and to facilitate a cultural exchange in the process; their final presentation to the Starbucks partners included a tasting of traditional Indian tea, to expose them to the flavors that Indians are accustomed to. Sharon, a rising fourth-year undergraduate student, said of her internship: I love the experience I am having here. I am learning a lot about Starbucks, corporate cultures, and about myself. She recalled feeling so proud of being a part of AUW, and remarked that Th[e]se are the times when we start believing in ourselves and in what we can do for the world. Other students interned in their home countries, using the internship as an opportunity to give back to their communities. Soumya Susan Cherian and Shalu Sebastian taught at the Dr. Bansi Dhar School, a middle school in their home country of India. A grant from the U.S. State Department s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement supported six (rising) second-year Afghan student interns who worked for the Afghan Ministry of Counter Narcotics, in departments including strategic planning, gender division, and procurement. The Ministry recognizes the important role Afghan Ministry of Counter Narcotics Leadership Interns from AUW, with Deputy MCN Minister Dr. Zafar Mercy and Kritika, AUW Access Academy 12 In lieu of internships, younger students can attend academic summer programs abroad. Two of AUW s Access Academy students, Kritika Kumary and Mercy Rezaun, attended summer courses at Philips Exeter Academy, an elite preparatory school in New Hampshire. Their courses included Speech Making, Global Economics, Journalism, Electronics, and Creative Writing. Philips Exeter generously provided free tuition, room and board for the summer program. I wish I could freeze time to get more time here I met wonderful people whom I will never forget. Mercy Each day has new promise, fun, and experience at Exeter, which is difficult to have from the region I come from Daily I meet people from some part of the world, about which I have just heard. -Kritika that women must play in development and governance, and hopes to improve the number of women serving in highlevel positions, partially through programs like this one. All of the students found mentors during the course of their internships. They gained a new insight into their home country, speaking of their enhanced understanding of how government works in Kabul, as well as a deeper awareness of the narcotics problem in Afghanistan. The Ministry is participating in the program as part of an effort to improve the number of women in high-level positions, recognizing the important role that women must play in development and governance. The student interns were able to contribute their ideas, organizational skills, English language skills, and dexterity with computers.

3 The diversity of AUW s student internships in geography, sector, and content area demonstrates the variety of interests and passions among the University s student body. The internship experience provides benefits to students and hosts alike, and a further increase in participation is expected next year, as AUW students continue to cultivate relationships with corporations, nonprofits, and governmental agencies. Those students not pursuing internships attended summer programs at universities and preparatory schools abroad, took courses at AUW s campus during its inaugural summer term, or conducted independent research projects under faculty supervision. Some students even held internships, attended summer courses, and worked on research projects simultaneously a testament to the extraordinary motivation and dedication of AUW s student body. The University is pleased to be expanding its programs to encourage student enrichment and development beyond the activities of the classroom. Fabiha Naumi Director, AUW Office of Student Internships Fabiha Naumi develops and maintains relationships with potential host organizations for AUW student interns, and prepares students for internships and employment in the region and beyond. Before becoming the director of the Internship Office, she headed the Student Affairs Office at AUW, and worked with the Professional Development and International Education Teams of Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar. Fabiha graduated Summa cum laude from the City College of the City University of New York with dual majors in Psychology and Sociology, and is a recipient of the Erasmus Mundus Mobility for Life Scholarship. Stanley Smith Coordinator for Public Affairs and Civic Engagement Stanley R. Smith holds a B. S. in Business with a focus upon International Business and Marketing from The Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado in Boulder, and an M.A. in Education from Mary Baldwin College. Mr. Smith has held management and corporate teaching and training positions at many organizations including K mart Corporation, Rite Aid Corporation, and CVS Caremark Corporation. He has also taught for many years in the areas of secondary mathematics and social sciences at both public and private schools and in the Master of Teaching Program at Mary Baldwin College. At AUW, Mr. Smith develops and provides corporate internship opportunities for students. FUTURE INTERNSHIP PLACEMENTS As our internship program grows, we will be seeking new partners for internship sites in order to give students an even broader range of experiences. If your company or organization would like to host AUW interns, please contact: Asian University for Women Support Foundation 1100 Massachusetts Avenue, Suite 300 Cambridge, MA Phone: +1 (617) Fax: + (617) info@asian-university.org

4 2012 Summer Internships Country Host Institution Sector Afghanistan Human Rights Commission, Herat Human Rights Ministry of Counter Narcotics Democracy International - USAID Development UN High Commission for Refugees Development (UNHCR) German Development Cooperation Development World Bank Development Kazi Shahid Foundation (KSF) Grameen Communications Caritas Dustho Shasthya Kendra (DSK) American Center, Chittagong Education and Research Asian University for Women (AUW) Education and Research BBC Action The Daily Star Chevron Energy Resources Bangladesh Santos: Sangu Gas Fields, Chittagong Energy Resources Oasis Cure Hospital ACI Limited, Bangladesh Pathology Lab of Islamic Bank Hospital, Khulna Incepta Pharmaceuticals, Dhaka Pharmaceuticals Social Marketing Company Ltd. Pharmaceuticals HSBC Bank Mercantile Bank Ltd. Uttara Bank, Dhaka Dhaka Bank Citibank, Bangladesh Basic Bank, Dhaka Robi Axiata Bangla-CAT Agility Logistics Cambodia Amansara Resort Hospitality and Management Navjyoti Foundation Dr. Bansi Dhar School Education and Research India Becton Dickinson TATA, India Clifford Chance, India Italy University of Trento Education and Research Japan JKSK (Empowering Women) Transcend Japan Nepal Wealth Exchange Nepal Limited World Wildlife Foundation, Nepal Development Pakistan Agility Logistics, Pakistan

5 Sharmeen Obaid Films Palestine Korea Palestine Center Colombo Plan Secretariat Development Association for War Affected Women (AWAW) Institute for Health Policy, Sri Lanka Education and Research Sri Lanka Angel International School, Manipay Education and Research Ampara Water Board, Sri Lanka Family Health Bureau Standard Chartered Bank Macksons Paints Pvt. Ltd. Sri Lanka United States Starbucks