During my time studying at Renmin University of China, I had the opportunity to intern at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. In order to become part of an international organization, I actively participated in Model United Nations activities and was fortunate to attend a series of courses at the School of International Organizations at Renmin University of China, which further deepened my understanding of international organizations. At the same time, I enrolled in the Global Governance Program during the spring semester of 2022. With the encouragement and guidance of my teachers, as well as the help of my seniors, I applied for numerous internship opportunities on the official United Nations website. Eventually, I was granted the chance to intern at the United Nations Headquarters and also received a scholarship from the China Scholarship Council. During my time at the United Nations, I gained a wealth of knowledge and had the chance to meet many Chinese professionals working in the United Nations. If anyone else has aspirations of interning at an international organization, I encourage you to believe in yourself. With the willingness to take action, there is a great chance of success, and I am certain that you will excel even better than I did!

Jian

Renmin University of China

Interned at the United Nations Headquarters (New York) Secretariat

As a student of the Innovation & Practice Programme for the Cultivation of High-level Internationalized Talent, I had the opportunity to intern at the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). Prior to my internship, I participated in four online courses on global governance, where I studied topics such as gender relations and gender equality education, international law, and globalization under the framework of sustainable development goals. I was awarded a certificate by the China Center for International Cultural Exchange, Ministry of Education. Furthermore, I participated in two sessions of the UNITAR International Competency Training Camp during the winter and summer breaks. I received recommendation letters from Mr. MS, Ambassador of the United Nations Office in New York, and Mr. TE from Newcastle University. The inclusive and diverse cultural environment of international organizations opened my eyes to a broader world. It made me realize how small we are in the grand scheme of things. My empathy skills were greatly enhanced through these experiences. Faced with the hardships brought by natural disasters, I understood that the joys and sorrows of all humanity are universal. I truly grasped the meaning of "a community with a shared future for mankind." Working together for progress is not only the common aspiration of people around the world but also the intrinsic strength of our national spirit.

Li Yunling

Jiangsu University

United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)

Wang Xinyi

Beijing Normal University

China-ASEAN Center

During my junior year, I attended an international organization presentation where alumni from organizations such as the World Bank stood confidently in their formal attire, introducing various international organizations to the audience. It was at that moment that I realized I wanted to become someone like them. Therefore, starting from my junior year, I began preparing myself to enter international organizations and enrolled in online courses on global governance. At the time, I signed up for two courses related to sustainable development. The teachers' insightful and theoretical lectures provided me with a lot of help in planning my self-improvement path. Previously, the China-ASEAN Center organized a cultural exchange event for female diplomats. My mentor actively involved me in the activities, allowing me to sit with diplomats and gain a deeper understanding of the working atmosphere of international organizations. My educational assistant sister, who supervised me, impressed me with her free-spirited attitude towards life and clear life goals. She taught me not to set limits for myself, not to be anxious about age, and not to fear taking on challenging tasks. Working with her made me see a broader world.

As a student of the Innovation & Practice Programme for the Cultivation of High-level Internationalized Talent, I have participated in the study of eight online courses on global governance and also took part in the International Competency Training Camp. Among the global governance courses, I found Professor Engel's "Exploring the United Nations and its Sustainable Development Goals" and "Gender Relations and Equality Education" particularly memorable. These introductory courses helped me broaden my horizons and provided excellent training in expanding my thinking for students who had not previously been exposed to global governance and sustainable development goals. During my internship, I wrote a series of overview articles titled "International City Axis" which focused on cities such as Tokyo, Rome, Bangkok, and Teotihuacan. This experience improved my time management skills as I had to balance my internship, thesis writing, and final exam preparation. It taught me how to adjust my mindset and enhanced my ability to handle stress. I also learned how to effectively manage multiple tasks simultaneously, which is valuable both for my current studies and future work.

Xu Jia

Shanghai University of International Business and Economic UNESCO International Center for Creativity and Sustainable Development