the Edmund S. Muskie Internship Program
The Edmund S. Muskie Internship Program is a summer internship program funded by the U.S. Department of State that provides emerging leaders from Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, and Central Asia with the opportunity to gain real-world experience complementing and enriching their graduate studies in the United States. A Muskie Intern shows a commitment to developing practical skills and a deeper understanding of American work culture, and readiness to use this experience for implementing positive changes and making a long-lasting impact in their home countries. Participating host organizations are not only at the forefront of bringing innovative talent to the American workplace, but also play a critical role in fostering mutual understanding.
The Edmund S. Muskie Internship Program invites participants to:
- Create relationships that support professional and personal development, stimulate creativity, challenge ideas, and lead to positive innovations;
- Experience different approaches used in the private, public and non-profit sectors in the U.S. and learn how different U.S. government agencies, NGOs, and businesses work together to address new trends, challenges, and common issues in support of American policy;
- Become a cultural ambassador promoting and encouraging mutual understanding between the U.S. and Eurasia;
- Learn how to advocate for issues that help to foster democratization, transition to market economies, and the establishment of a strong civil society.
*Costs to participate in the program are covered by the grant, and participants will receive a stipend to cover living expenses in the cities in which their host internship takes place.
Program Components
1. A Three-day orientation in Washington, D.C.
- It will include team-building exercises, information sessions on community service volunteering, and ways to develop policy briefs and advocacy campaigns.
2. Three-month professional internship in the participant’s field of study
3. Virtual learning
- Participants will be invited to join a virtual space that will prepare them to get the most out of their internship experience. This interaction will introduce participants to each other, provide an overview of the expectations for program outputs, and introduce concepts of volunteerism and community service
As a part of virtual learning, participants will: - take part in professional development webinars in June and July;
- share photos and stories about their community service experience;
- create and submit advocacy campaign or policy briefing on an issue of importance to them, their studies, and work;
4. Community Service Activity
5. Closing Seminar in August
- This is an opportunity for participants to share their summer work internship experiences and to further support their career development.
Who May Apply?
Applicants must meet ALL of the following criteria to be eligible for the program:
- Applicants must currently be a Fulbright Foreign Student, and must be currently studying at a U.S. college or university.
- Applicants must be a citizen of one of the following countries:
Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Moldova, the Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine or Uzbekistan. - Applicants must be studying in one of the following academic fields:
Business Administration, Economics, Education, Environmental Management, International Affairs, Journalism and Mass Communication, Law, Library and Information Science, Public Administration, Public Health, or Public Policy.