AUWs Internship Program Expands in 2012

This summer marks the third year of AUWs 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 Soumya Susan Cherian (left) and Shalu make informed choices about their own career paths. This Sebastian (right) spent the summer teaching at year, a total of 135 students found placements at 52 banks, Dr. Bansi Dhar School, a middle school in their corporations, NGOs, hospitals, government agencies, and home country of India. 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 summers 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 Internationals 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 that they were learning many things during their internships. Two students also interned at the Daily Star, Bangladeshs top EnglishRubana Mussharat (left) and Ankhi language newspaper. Zyma Islam and Giang Tran worked as Banik (right), interns at Democracy Training Reporters, writing articles and traveling to report on International in Bangladesh 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 womens 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.

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 companys 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 Mercy and Kritika, AUW Access her internship: I love the experience I am having here. I am learning Academy 12 a lot about Starbucks, corporate cultures, and about myself. She In lieu of internships, younger students recalled feeling so proud of being a part of AUW, and remarked can attend academic summer programs that Th[e]se are the times when we start believing in ourselves and in abroad. Two of AUWs Access Academy what we can do for the world. students, Kritika Kumary and Mercy Rezaun, attended summer courses at Other students interned in their home countries, using the Philips Exeter Academy, an elite internship as an opportunity to give back to their communities. preparatory school in New Hampshire. Soumya Susan Cherian and Shalu Sebastian taught at the Dr. Bansi Their courses included Speech Making, Dhar School, a middle school in their home country of India. A grant Global Economics, Journalism, Electronics, and Creative Writing. Philips Exeter from the U.S. State Departments Bureau of International Narcotics generously provided free tuition, room and Law Enforcement supported six (rising) second-year Afghan and board for the summer program. student interns who worked for the Afghan Ministry of Counter Narcotics, in I wish I could freeze time to get more time hereI met wonderful people whom departments I will never forget. Mercy including strategic planning, gender Each day has new promise, fun, and experience at Exeter, which is difficult to division, and have from the region I come fromDaily I procurement. The meet people from some part of the world, Ministry recognizes about which I have just heard. -Kritika the important role 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 Afghan Ministry of Counter Narcotics government works in Kabul, as well as a deeper awareness of Leadership Interns from AUW, with the narcotics problem in Afghanistan. The Ministry is Deputy MCN Minister Dr. Zafar 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.

The diversity of AUWs student internshipsin geography, sector, and content areademonstrates the variety of interests and passions among the Universitys 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 AUWs 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 simultaneouslya testament to the extraordinary motivation and dedication of AUWs 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.

Country Afghanistan

Bangladesh

Cambodia India Italy Japan Nepal

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

Sector Human Rights Government Development Development Development Development Non-profit Non-profit Non-profit Non-profit Education and Research Education and Research Media Media Energy Resources Energy Resources Public Health Public Health Public Health Pharmaceuticals Pharmaceuticals Finance and Banking Finance and Banking Finance and Banking Finance and Banking Finance and Banking Finance and Banking Corporate Corporate Corporate Hospitality and Management Non-profit Education and Research Public Health Corporate Education and Research Non-profit Non-profit Finance and Banking Development

Pakistan Palestine

Sri Lanka

United States

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

Corporate Media Non-profit Development Non-profit Education and Research Education and Research Government Government Finance and Banking Corporate Corporate Updated on 8/23/2012