Introducing ISDP’s Fall 2024/25 interns
The Institute for Security and Development Policy (ISDP) offers an internship program each semester, available to undergraduate and graduate students, and recent graduates. Interns gain hands-on experience in an international setting, are encouraged to collaborate on publications with staff or independently, and progressively take on more responsibility within the organization. So, what can students look forward to during an internship at ISDP?
We currently have nine interns reflecting on their initial experiences at ISDP and sharing what they are most excited about as they continue their internship:
Asia Program: Leo Ruet; Stockholm China Center: Celine Hedin and Tony Su; Stockholm Korea Center: Johanna Miskolczi Persson and Irene Spennacchio; Stockholm Center for South Asian and Indo-Pacific Affairs: Marta Chiusi, Alexander Droop, and Lena Fargier; Stockholm Taiwan Center: Elenor Söderberg
ISDP: To give interested students an idea – what do you work with as an intern at ISDP? And how do you like it?
Reading and monitoring news, conducting research, and event coordination are regular responsibilities for ISDP interns. Here is what the interns shared about the specific activities involved in these broader tasks. The distribution of tasks and priorities differs slightly in each center, but there are some similarities.
Marta and Lena gained some first-hand experience at the Center for South Asian and Indo-Pacific Affairs in the last weeks:
Marta: “As an intern at ISDP, I work on various tasks, including research, article and newsletter writing, and event coordination. I primarily focus on geopolitics in South Asia and the Indo-Pacific region, covering topics such as China’s influence and regional security. Recently, I have been involved in organizing conferences like the Climate Change Delegation under the ISDP-KIIP research initiative and the Stockholm Forum on Himalaya, which gave me firsthand experience in event planning. I really enjoy the balance between academic research and practical tasks.”
Lena: “My role at the Indo-Pacific Center is incredibly dynamic. I’m constantly juggling various tasks, from curating news for our India-Sweden Strategic Compass Newsletter to assisting with event preparations. This diverse workload has been a steep learning curve but also gratifying. I’m honing my writing skills, gaining insights into event management, and connecting with experts through webinars. It’s an excellent opportunity to contribute to meaningful work and get a broader perspective on the issues we’re addressing.”
Irene and Johanna work at the Stockholm Korea Center:
Irene: “As an intern at ISDP’s Korea Center, my work differs in so many ways. I do a lot of event planning, research, and I also have the chance to write a lot of pieces with interesting and great authors. I would argue that my favorite part is being in touch with many high-level people that enhance my understanding of international security and policy development.”
Johanna: “Some weeks consist of mostly conducting research for different publications, whereas other weeks are about event planning and attending events hosted at or by the Korea Center. I like that there is variation in our work, so I’m enjoying getting to be involved in a range of different types of work and learning from it all.”
Leo: “I work with the Asia program. In essence, I mainly help with projects worked on by our Executive Director and assist the other centers if I can. I enjoy my work here at ISDP because it allows me to work on subjects I am passionate about and learn new information about Asia, which is a broad subject. “
What does your typical day look like?
Tony: “A typical day involves a mix of research, material gathering, and reporting. I assist researchers with gathering and analyzing material on various security and development topics, primarily focusing on areas such as Sino-Russian relations and China’s military acquisitions. In addition, I work on my issue brief, plan an interview for an “Experts’ Take” piece, and reach out to researchers.”
Lena: “Tasks vary, ranging from assigned duties to personal projects. This diversity keeps the work dynamic and prevents monotony. Despite a busy schedule, balancing work and personal life by attending conferences, enjoying lunches with colleagues, and taking time to relax is possible.”
Elenor: “Each day starts with coffee and catching up on the latest news, particularly on Taiwan and the surrounding region. My tasks vary – some days involve meetings or events, but most of my time is dedicated to research and writing. Occasionally, I assist with event planning or social media tasks, depending on what’s needed, which is something I’ve worked with before and enjoy. There is simply always something going on making the internship fun and exciting.”
What was your highlight so far?
Celine: “It has been nice to get to know everyone at the office and learn from their experiences and stories. The atmosphere is very warm and welcoming. Thursday fikas (a get-together in the office with coffee and snacks) should not be underestimated and even when you are just at your desk, the open office layout makes it easy to gain insights about ISDP’s activities and publications for the curious one!”
Tony: “One of the highlights of my internship so far has been gathering material on China’s Military-Civil Fusion and military imports. Not only was the topic interesting and relevant to my academic background in linguistics and Sinology, but I also had the opportunity to contribute to policy recommendations.”
Marta: “One of my highlights was writing an article for the upcoming “Stockholm Paper on Mapping China’s Himalayan Hustle”, which allowed me to dive deeper into China’s strategic interests in the Himalayas, and more specifically in Afghanistan. This experience has enriched my understanding of the geopolitics in that area.”
Lena: “One of this year’s most memorable moments was organizing a research trip and conference in Vilnius and Prague. Coordinating these large-scale events was a rewarding experience.”
How can you apply your theoretical knowledge from university in practice?
Elenor: “I apply my academic background regularly. My knowledge of Chinese language and Cross-Strait politics has been particularly helpful in my research. Additionally, the skills I developed in structuring essays and research papers have helped me stay organized and effective.”
Tony: “I have been able to apply my university training in linguistics, Sinology, and economics by analyzing Chinese-language sources and evaluating economic policies related to security issues. My experience in Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) courses has also been particularly valuable, as it allows me to research and analyze available data with an informed perspective.”
Johanna: “Most of what I bring with me from university is different research skills which help me in my research during the internship. A lot of historical and geopolitical background, too, which helps me understand the contemporary issues I work on in the internship.”
What was unexpected?
Johanna: “The amount of freedom we have to explore topics that interest us – I get the impression that I am actively encouraged to explore my interests as long as they are related to the topics of the Korea Center.”
Irene: “As an Italian with a specific idea of internship, what was the most unexpected was the availability of people to connect with and to learn from, as well as the quality and quantity of skills and knowledge I am gaining. I honestly did not expect to get to know a lot of knowledge on IR and the Korean peninsula, but also to get to know so many people with various backgrounds and cultures both inside and outside ISDP.”
Lena: “From past internship experience, before starting this internship, I was worried about a rigid and intimidating work environment. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find a welcoming and supportive atmosphere. Everyone is helpful and friendly, and the work-life balance is good.”
Marta: “What surprised me the most was how much hands-on responsibility interns are given. I didn’t expect to be so involved in event planning and get the opportunity to publish articles. This level of involvement has been very rewarding.”
Celine: “Most recently, I have been working on graphic design for social media posts and illustrations for a report. It has been surprisingly fun to be creative through visual art and color. Producing great content is one thing, however, infographics and visual presentation are becoming increasingly important to catch audiences’ attention.”
Elenor: “I initially thought I would be working at the China Center, but early on, I was given the opportunity to switch to the Stockholm Taiwan Center. While I believe I would have enjoyed both, I am glad I made the switch. Taiwan was not a region I expected to focus on initially, but having spent my last semester in Taipei, it has been fun to continue deepening my understanding of the area.”
Alexander: “The dynamic work environment was a pleasant surprise. The office atmosphere fosters a strong “can-do” attitude, with everyone being positive and encouraging. You are given the freedom to explore and develop your own ideas, which is invaluable when starting an internship.”
What are you looking forward to for the rest of your internship experience?
The interns look forward to publishing their own blog posts or other publications with colleagues and being involved in events.
Tony: “I am looking forward to expanding my understanding of security issues in the EU-China relationship and deepening my research skills by working more closely with experts.”
Marta: “For the rest of my internship, I am looking forward to attending the “Stockholm Forum on Himalaya”. I am excited to interact with experts in the field and gain insights from their discussions.”
Irene: “I look forward to being involved in the planning of a conference on policy development about gender disparities in the ROK. I will have the chance to shift my knowledge to angles that differ from security and strategic military cooperation. I look forward to deepening my knowledge in this area.”
What are the key insights you will take with you from the internship?
Celine: “Through the internship, I have gained a better understanding of how NGOs influence, collaborate, and complement governments, academia, and civil society.”
Tony: “I learned bout the importance of balancing academic research with practical, real-world applications.”
Marta: “This internship has shown me the importance of being adaptable, whether it is through event coordination or contributing to research that addresses real-world challenges.”
Alexander: “I am really looking forward to completing the “Experts’ Take” series we have planned at the Center for South Asian and Indo-Pacific Affairs. It is an exciting opportunity to take ownership of a project, from developing the topic and crafting questions to identifying and interviewing the right experts.”
Thank you so much for sharing your insights! We at ISDP are thrilled to have the opportunity to continue working with you over the coming months!
Are you interested in joining the ISDP as an intern? Now is the time to apply for the spring 2025 positions. The deadline is on Sunday, October 20th.
Are you interested in doing an internship at ISDP? Here, you can find more information about our internship program and answers to common questions. Calls for applications for the fall semester will be announced in March/ April and the spring internship opportunities are usually announced in September.