The value of an international internship at a distance

By Asma

Student, Honours Bachelor of Social Sciences with a Major in Criminology and a Minor in Law

From the Field
Picture of a bag with some little international flags on it.
"I am very grateful for this experience and highly recommend it to any student who is interested in the fields of governance and development."

Asma, Honours Bachelor of Social Sciences with a Major in Criminology and a Minor in Law
Canadian NGO: Forum of Federations

During the past three months, I had the tremendous opportunity to take part in an internship at a distance at the Forum of Federations (“The Forum”). I am very grateful for this experience and highly recommend it to any student who is interested in the fields of governance and development.

The Forum is an international organization that supports governments and communities by designing and implementing programs. The organization also achieves its mission through the development and sharing of comparative expertise in relation to federalism and devolved governance. The Forum’s effectiveness lies in its collaborative approach with government departments and local organizations around the world. Its success is also attributed to the diversity of knowledge and experiences brought by the staff; this diversity creates a fascinating and inviting work environment. 

My work at the Forum involved producing content for social media and editing podcasts and book reports. The tasks helped me improve various skills ranging from communication and time management to graphic design. Each task presented a new learning opportunity on federalism and the advantages and challenges associated with this form of government. I also had the chance to interact with some of the Forum staff and experts and learn from their knowledge and experience.

Finally, I would like to thank our internships’ supervisors at the Faculty of Social Sciences for facilitating our transition into remote work and for their support throughout the term. Both the pre-internship training and the reflections we were invited to provide helped me adapt to online work and make the most out of this experience.