Student Opportunities Abroad
Students for Development internships
Funding for the 2009 Students for Development (SFD) internships has just been announced. Below, please find guidelines, an application form and information on governance. The students for development program is funded by CIDA and if your application is successful, provides an opportunity to spend 3 months or more working with a partner agency in a developing country on governance issues.
In past years, UW students have worked in Bangladesh, Ghana, Guyana, Kenya, Tanzania and Thailand. They have used their experience to gather material for 4th year projects, masters or PhD thesis or as a coop term.
Interns receive up to $8,000 to cover airfare and living expenses while on the internship.
Student Eligibility
- Canadian citizen or permanent resident
- enrolled full-time at UW*
- in at least 3rd year of Bachelor's degree or candidate for Masters or PhD
- can not have previously participated in the program
- must follow all of UW's policies for travel abroad and research (if applicable) including attending UW's predeparture briefing, completing all required predeparture forms and receiving appropriate ethics clearance if internship will involve human or animal research
- must be willing to attend a debriefing on returning to Canada
- must be willing to complete financial and narrative reports on returning to Canada and must be willing to undertake a public engagement event(s)
- student must have a faculty supervisor at UW and develop a workplan together with their supervisor and the international partner agency
- must be eligible to receive academic credit for the successful completion of the internship
- Academic credit may include a reading course, special interest course, co-op credit, practicum, or required field/research work for a major paper or thesis
- Note: *St. Jerome's students should apply to the program through Joanne Benham Rennick, St. Jerome's University
Applications must meet the following requirements:
CIDA priorities: Internships must contribute to CIDA’s mandate (poverty reduction) and address one of the following three CIDA areas of focus:
1. Promoting democratic governance
2. Improving health
3. Advancing environmental sustainability
Students are responsible for locating a partner agency.
CIDA's list of voluntary sector partners
Print application form (4 pages)
Print overview of the guidelines (7 pages)
Guide to key concepts in governance and development (9 pages)
What to submit:
With your application, please submit the following:
- a statement telling us how the internship will complement your field of study and advance your future career prospects.
- A statement from the faculty member who will be acting as your advisor indicating the following (email statement to kdsnell@uwaterloo.ca):
- The supervisor agrees to provide academic supervision and general guidance during the internship and after
- The supervisor will provide input to required UW and AUCC reporting (university approvals, tracking of in-kind (time) contributions and any departmental expense receipts)
- Confirmation that the internship is eligible for academic credit (for example a course, coop term or a required field/research term for a major paper/thesis)
Deadline for RECEIPT of complete applications:
To apply for a fall internship: submit an application by 9:30am Wednesday June 17, 2009
Applications & Questions to:
Kristin Snell 519-888-4567 x35884
Waterloo International
Needles Hall, Room 1101
University of Waterloo
