Facilitating a monitoring and evaluation workshop in the Philippines.

Since 1998, CUI has offered a variety of international internships to young professionals, providing them with the opportunity to work overseas, develop their professional and leadership skills, and contribute to sharing Canada’s knowledge with transitioning and developing countries.

CUI’s Youth Internship program is designed to contribute to the implementation of the Government of Canada’s Youth Employment Strategy. Internships contribute to building excellence and skills among Canadian youth about to enter the knowledge economy, in the very specialized field of international development that is an important service export of our country. The internships build not only professional and social skills of Canadian youth, but also instil traits of flexibility and adaptability thereby strengthening their ability to work in foreign cultures. The increased knowledge gained by the interns related to international development, sustainable development and good governance at the local level will help to assist Canadian youth to succeed in the labour market upon their return to Canada.

The Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) has been a key contributor to CUI’s Youth Internship program, through its International Youth Internship Program of the Youth Action Division, Canadian Partnership Branch as well as through CUI’s ongoing CIDA funding. Internships specifically for York University students are funded in partnership with the York International Internship Program and Osgoode Hall’s International Legal Partnerships.

Internships funded through CIDA’s International Youth Internship Program are designed to provide entry-level professional work experience to recent graduates of university degree programs related to urban management, local government, planning and other associated fields who are interested in pursuing their first international development, career-related work experience. It is open to youth 30 years of age or under, who are citizens of Canada or Canadian landed immigrants. In some cases, proficiency in a second language is required. The program provides travel and living expenses for interns to work overseas for approximately five months through a placement in a CUI international project office or within one of our overseas partner organizations. It provides a unique opportunity for young professionals to work as part of a team alongside seasoned international development professionals within the structure of a long-term CIDA-funded project. During the course of the internship, interns are provided with professional learning experiences and upon return to Canada, career development assistance to help them find long-term employment.

Other internships, particularly those funded by York University, provide current students with the opportunity to put their knowledge into action through a summer internship placement at one of CUI’s international project offices or with one of our overseas partner organizations. Previous summer internship themes have ranged from knowledge management to environmental and disaster management law to sustainable development planning. Drawing on our ongoing CIDA funding, CUI has also provided students or recent graduates from other universities with international internships.

To learn about CUI’s current international internship opportunities, please click here .

In addition, CUI supports our international partners to provide similar opportunities for young professionals and university students from our partner countries.