InFocus | Back to School
A platform for cultural exchange
Internship for students from the UAE and the US hailed a success
- WAM
- Published: 00:00 September 7, 2010
The Dubai School of Government (DSG), a research and teaching institution focusing on public policy in the Arab world, has announced that ten students — five each from the UAE and the US — have successfully completed a summer internship programme.
The internship served as a way for students from top US universities such as Harvard, Yale and Pepperdine to visit the Middle East and learn more about the region; for most of the US interns, the experience was their first direct exposure to the Arab world.
Public policy topics
The 40-hour per week programme, which extended over a period of four to eight weeks, gave students the opportunity to work with DSG faculty and researchers on a variety of cutting-edge public policy topics including education reform, electronic government, women and leadership, economics and public sector management. In addition to new insights into public policy issues, the interns gained research experience crucial for pursuing graduate studies or a career in public policy.
Dr. Tarik Yousef, Dean of the DSG said, "We are pleased to have hosted such brilliant students. The internship programmes offered at DSG allowed students to gain analytical and research skills that will positively impact and contribute to their educational and professional development.
"More importantly, the interaction between the UAE and the US interns proved informative, challenging the students to develop their personal perspectives and providing a unique opportunity for students to learn about other cultures through direct interaction in a work environment."
The interns for the programme were selected through a stringent evaluation process. To be eligible to apply, they had to be enrolled in an accredited university and hold a grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
About DSG
Established in 2005 in cooperation with the Harvard Kennedy School, the DSG is committed to the creation of knowledge and the dissemination of global best practices in the Arab world. It conducts various programmes that seek to enhance the region's capacity for effective public policy.
