Vy Tran, Honours Bachelor of Social Sciences in International Economics and Development
Virtual Internship Country: Vietnam
Canadian NGO: WUSC
Local NGO: BTL
I am enjoying the internship thus far and would like to recommend this international opportunity to students specialized or interested in the fields of development and public policy.
I am currently e-interning for World University Service of Canada (WUSC), a well-known Ottawa-based development organization that is responsible for providing economic, education, and empowerment opportunities to youth in less developed nations with a specific focus on young women and young refugees. Some past and current flagship projects of WUSC include Uniterra (in cooperation with CECI), IGNI+E (Innovative Global Networks for Inclusion + Equality), WAGES (The West Africa Governance and Economic Sustainability in Extractive Areas), and WE LEAD (Women’s Economic Linkages and Employment Development). Operating in over 15 countries across Asia, Africa, and Americas, WUSC’s aims at helping improve social and economic well-being for the poor and marginalized youth in the developing world by raising awareness of gender equality, by sharing expertise, and by delivering more innovative and environmentally sustainable initiatives.
My assigned task is researching and developing a communication strategy that leads to a more effective student recruitment campaign for the BTL technical college, one of WUSC’s partners in Vietnam. Based in Hanoi, the capital city of Vietnam, BTL offers a wide array of program options, from academic continuation to vocational training, to young Vietnamese aged 15-35. I am thankful for this opportunity since I am allowed to apply the research skills and knowledge acquired in my program of studies, to learn more about some barriers between academic tools and real life, and to have thought-provoking conversations with local representatives.
It is still too early to know whether I will successfully complete all the assigned tasks or not. However, thanks to various resources and support offered by WUSC and the Faculty of Social Sciences at uOttawa, I know for certain that this internship will be one of the most informative, practical, and memorable terms in my university journey.