CU students intern abroad through campus organization

A semester in Poland. A summer in Egypt. A year in Brazil.

Spending time abroad can be exhilarating, but the process of planning for it can be frustrating, the options limited and the costs sky high. AIESEC (Association Internationale des Étudiants en Sciences Économiques et Commerciales) helps between five and 10 Cornell students each year have a meaningful international experience, but the organization can help many more.

Spanning more than 800 universities in 100 countries, AIESEC (pronounced "EYE-sec") is a global student organization that aims to help young people become agents of positive change.

"AIESEC recognizes that achieving peace starts with the individual," explains Tracey Hsu '10, president of AIESEC Cornell, "and therefore seeks to ... cultivate this mindset of global citizenry by sending [students] on an international internship experience."

AIESEC Cornell, which has about 35 members, has sent Cornellians on internships over the past five years to such countries as Colombia, Egypt, Poland and India.

The local chapter matches Cornellians with employers ranging from Fortune 500 companies to nongovernmental organizations that are looking specifically to hire students matched through the AIESEC program. More than 3,000 internship opportunities are available, from two to 18 months in length, in such areas as management (marketing, finance, human resources and economics), education (teaching English and cultural education), community development (working with nonprofits and nongovernmental organizations), and technology (engineering and information technology).

"The ratio of employers to students is very much in students' favor," says Kate McDermott '10, head of the local exchange team, which facilitates the student-employer matching process. Many members also said the low cost of participation -- usually just the cost of a plane ticket plus a fixed $500 fee -- and the large number of paid internships make it a good alternative to studying abroad during difficult financial times. Instead of attending another university for credit, students work overseas and often come away with a different experience and skill set.

Students going abroad through AIESEC Cornell benefit from an extensive support network of AIESEC chapters in almost any country. "AIESEC lets you really familiarize yourself with all aspects of your host city while providing a secure network of friends and contacts," says Lindsey Bober '09, who spent six months teaching English in Colombia last semester. "You're living, working, eating, socializing with the native population, [rather than] spending most of your time with other Americans or foreigners."

To ensure a smooth transition, both local and national program staff members work closely with students before and after their internships to prepare them for their trips and help them readjust successfully upon their return.

Students who are unable to go abroad can still take advantage of numerous leadership opportunities that AIESEC Cornell provides on campus, such as organizing initiatives and leading business teams within the local chapter. This spring, for example, AIESEC Cornell will host the semiannual Regional Kick-Off Seminar for northeastern AIESEC chapters, giving members the chance to network with Ivy peers.

For activities and meetings in the coming weeks, see: http://www.rso.cornell.edu/aiesec/cornell.php or e-mail aiesec@cornell.edu.

Joanna Shi '09 is a writer intern for the Cornell Chronicle.

 

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