UNA-NCA Graduate Fellows Program Fall 2009
Applications are due by 5pm, February 26, 2009
Background
The United Nations Association of the National Capital Area (UNA/NCA) provides an opportunity for Washington area graduate students interested in international affairs, development, trade, finance, and related disciplines to explore the field of international organizations. The Fellows Program offers participants the chance to build strong professional and academic skills through relevant internship experiences and a series of 8-10 seminars on global issues and the United Nations.
Since it was initiated in 1991 by officials of the UNA/NCA, who wanted to bring together the resources of the organization and the 15 members of the Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area, the program has involved over 500 students and 40 international organizations. The UNA/NCA’s access to the United Nations system of agencies and diverse range of professional relationships has helped make this program the most successful such UNA program in the country.
Seminars
UNA/NCA Fellows are required to attend the series of seminars. The seminars will be on the challenges and opportunities facing the UN system and will cover many topics of contemporary importance. Prominent experts and officials will be included as guest speakers. Past seminars have featured notable experts such as: Dr. William Durch, former Project Director of the UN Panel on UN Peace Operations; Salih Booker, Executive Director, Global Rights; Dr. Desmond Birmingham, Head, Fast Track Initiative Secretariat, World Bank; Frank Vogl, founder, Transparency International; and Diana Wells, Co-President, Ashoka.
The seminar is co-directed by Robert J. Berg and Richard J. Ponzio. After a career in international development, Mr. Berg was Senior Advisor to the UN Economic Commission for Africa, the World Education Forum (consisting of the world’s education ministers), the World Summit for Children (the first summit on development), and he initiated and co-authored the first UN system-wide initiative (the second being the Millennium Development Goals). He is currently Senior Advisor to the World Federation of United Nations Associations, and is a member of the UN Expert Panel on the economic and governance implications of climate change. Mr. Ponzio was most recently a Senior Policy Analyst at the UN Peacebuilding Support Office within the Executive Office of the Secretary General. He has served in a number of hot spots for the UN, including Afghanistan, Kosovo, Solomon Islands, and Sierra Leone. He has also served in the UN’s most influential think tank, the UNDP’s Human Development Report Office. He received his Ph.D from Oxford University and has published extensively, including co-authoring a recent Oxford University Press volume on famed economist Mahbub ul Haq, featuring a forward by Amartya Sen. Both Berg and Ponzio have published in Global Governance, the journal of the Academic Council of the United Nations.
Each seminar will start at 12:00 p.m., last for 2 hours and will be held on Tuesdays. Preparatory readings for each seminar will be assigned. Seminars will be held at the George Washington University’s Elliott School (1957 E Street, NW) in a seminar room to be assigned. UNA/NCA staff must be informed beforehand of an absence. Seminar dates will be announced during the summer break and will begin in September 2009.
Components of the UNA/NCA Fellows Program
* An 8-or-10 session seminar program focusing on pertinent current issues facing the United Nations System, including reform challenges, and featuring leading figures working on those issues;
* A substantive work experience of up to 20 hours per week in the Washington area office of an international organization. Developing networking skills among the Fellows through discussions of their internship experiences;
* The opportunity to earn academic credits from certain universities. (applicant responsible for exploring this option with faculty advisor at his/her university)
Eligibility
UNA/NCA Fellows are registered graduate students in the Fall 2009 semester at one of the Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area studying international affairs, trade, development, or a related discipline. The 15 Consortium Schools are:
* American University
* Catholic University of America
* Gallaudet University
* Georgetown University
* George Mason University
* The George Washington University
* Howard University
* Johns Hopkins University / SAIS
* Marymount University
* National Defense University
* National Defense Intelligence College
* Southeastern University
* Trinity College
* University of the District of Columbia
* University of Maryland, College Park
Internship Requirement
UNA Fellows are required to obtain an internship at an international organization during the semester in which they participate in the program. Such internships usually run up to 20 hours per week. Over the years, Fellows have interned in a large number of organizations in the Washington area and have participated in a wide range of substantive analyses, programs and initiatives. Such organizations include official agencies, NGOs, think tanks and private firms. Given the market options for such organizations, almost all of these internships are unpaid, alas.
UNA/NCA, where possible, will assist Fellows to obtain an appropriate and challenging internship, using personal and UNA contacts. But, in practical terms, the initiative of the Fellow is essential to identify and obtain an internship as hiring organizations make their own determinations based upon interviews and the personal backgrounds of those seeking internships. Nonetheless, the help of UNA/NCA Board members at times has been very useful in this process.
In the program, one of the opportunities is that Fellows can exchange information about internship experiences with a set of other outstanding graduate students from a number of other academic institutions.
Certificate of Accomplishment
Those who complete the program by participating in the seminar series and completing their internships will be awarded a Certificate by the UNA/NCA.
Submission of Application
Applications are welcome from graduate students in good standing from any of the Consortium Universities who will be in these graduate programs during the Fall semester. The application has five parts, listed below:
1. the two-page application (please see attached)
2. an essay (250-300 words) discussing the applicant’s 5-year career plan
3. a copy of the applicant’s unofficial graduate transcript
4. one letter of recommendation
5. an updated resume
Completed applications must be submitted by 5 p.m., Thursday February 26, 2009
by email to Robert J. Berg, Director, UNA Graduate Fellows Program, BobBerg500@cs.com; and Scott Permar, Recruitment Coordinator, s.permar@gmail.com
Selection Process/Timetable
Final decisions for Fall 2009 UNA/NCA Fellows likely will be completed within two weeks of the application deadline. The selection will be based upon the application and, for those under final consideration, a personal interview with a member of the UNA/NCA Fellows Board. Instructions for scheduling this interview will be available when each Fellow is contacted.
United Nations Association of the National Capital Area
2000 P Street NW, Suite 630
Washington, DC 20036
Phone (202)223-6092 ¨ Fax (202)223-6096
unanca@unanca.org
For Further Information Contact:
Bob Berg, Director, UNA/NCA Graduate Fellows Program, (bobberg500@cs.com) or Abi Pereira, Education Chair, UNA/NCA, (abipere@aol.com)
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