Internship in Diplomacy, Politics and International Relations
WHY INTERN IN SOUTH AFRICA?
This unique internship program focuses on non-western perspectives in the fields of international relations, South-South relations, and the possibilities and limits of multilateral diplomacy and cooperation. Through internship engagements with host nongovernmental organizations, visits with ambassadors, lectures and reflection seminars, and excursions, you will learn about South Africa’s successes and continued challenges as it transitions from apartheid to democracy.
The core component of this program is a five-week internship with one of SIT’s partner civil society NGOs. These include the Africa Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (ACCORD), the Institute for Global Dialogue (IGD), Institute for Security Studies (ISS), and Centre for Conflict Resolution (CCR). Internship roles and responsibilities depend on student interests and specific skills, and may include proposal writing, media and content development, administrative tasks, and workshop and conference support.
On excursions to Johannesburg and Maputo, Mozambique, you will learn about the role of front-line states (a coalition of African nations that supported the anti-apartheid movement) in South Africa’s liberation struggle, and the challenges posed by contemporary global trends such as mass migration. During the program’s thematic seminar, you will survey the architecture of the South African political landscape constructed around the objectives of the African Union (AU).
HIGHLIGHTS
- Explore career paths while engaging with diplomats and learning about South Africa’s transition from apartheid to democracy.
- Enhance your intercultural and organizational communication skills while working with leading civil society NGOs.
- Examine South-South relations and political and social developments through the lens of South African diplomacy.
- Travel to Mozambique to learn about the Southern African Development Community and its impact on international diplomacy in the region.
Eligibility
SIT Full-term Fall, Spring, and Summer Programs
SIT Study Abroad welcomes applications from undergraduate students who:
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are enrolled at an accredited college or university.
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have completed at least one year of college-level coursework at the time of application and preferably two years for IHP/Comparative programs. (Exceptions: only one semester of college coursework is required for full-length summer programs.)
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are in good academic standing with a cumulative GPA of 2.5 of higher*.
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meet prerequisites for the programs to which they are applying. Prerequisite information is available on program-specific web pages.
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SIT programs center on field-based, experiential learning with a wholistic application review. In order to reduce barriers related to standardized scoring models and foster an environment of access and inclusion, the admissions committee encourages applicants in good academic standing, but whose GPA may fall outside of our recommended minimum GPA, to submit an additional statement of context with their official transcripts.
This is a great opportunity for Politics Students looking to accrue experience in different fields and acquire qualifications. The School for International Training which provides this experience provides a whole host of other courses spanning different subjects in nearly all continents
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