Research at IFE
The internship experience was very related to medicine, my interest, and the connections I formed there led to a Fulbright research grant two years later at the same lab of my original internship. The experience I had with IFE was invaluable to my professional goals in the medical field.
Andrew. Biology, French
Research linked to a full-time internship is the core of the IFE semester. The research project takes the form of a guided independent study.
Oral defense of internship paper: Catherine, on the protection against inforced or involuntary disappereance in ASEAN
WHAT IS THE CONNECTION, CONCRETELY, BETWEEN RESEARCH AND INTERNSHIP?
A lengthy, engaged internship presents a unique opportunity for access to data, interviews, documents, and other key sources of information and insight that would otherwise go untapped.
Also, a student-intern who performs pertinent research while on the job becomes a more engaged and knowledgeable intern.
Internship opens up research access; research makes the internship experience more valuable.
Finally, some internship placements themselves are focused on research, whether in science labs, social science institutes, think tanks or policy centers.
HOW IS THE RESEARCH TOPIC CHOSEN?
Once student-interns are comfortable on the job, they consult with their internship mentor and their research advisor to develop a topic of value and interest to the student-intern and to the host organization.
WHO ARE THE IFE RESEARCH ADVISORS?
IFE pairs each student with a university teacher, researcher, or professional in the student’s field. Research advisors are trained by IFE in the nature and format of the project.
DO STUDENTS FIND IT DIFFICULT TO WRITE A LONG PAPER IN A SECOND LANGUAGE?
Students are in class and on the job for many weeks before they begin to draft their paper. During that time – in class at first and then on the job – they have carried out a number of written assigments in the host language. Advisors and IFE staff are available to help.
SUMMING UP
Combining guided field research with a lengthy internship experience enhances both.