US summer internship experiences sharing by students

It has been a month since Parami's Rising Generation Summer interns arrived in the U.S. and began their internships at various renowned organizations, including Accion International, US-ASEAN Business Council, C4ADS, and East-West Center in Washington, D.C. At this halfway point of their internship, the students shared some of their reflections on the experience so far.  

Attending an online university requires students to experience student life to the fullest, which will help them not only academically but also personally and professionally. Through overseas opportunities such as internships, Parami University aims to provide students with the opportunity to apply what they have learned from the classroom in real-life situations, learn from renowned organizations, and discover their potential to become inspiring leaders who will bring positive change to their communities. 

According to Dr. Kyaw Moe Tun, the President of Parami University, the US internship program aims to provide Parami students with experience working at international organizations in Washington, DC, that work globally on issues that are relatable to them.

Moe Thiri Myat at Accion International

Moe Thiri Myat is currently working for a research think tank at Accion International, focusing on women, financial inclusion, and climate change issues. She is working on research on how climate change impacts women's economic inclusion and identifies better solutions to mitigate these effects. The research covers minority Indigenous women groups in rural areas relating to their access to financial services and economic opportunities.

With the insights from advocating for women to access financial services and products equally, she is motivated to contribute to the host society organization.

"The internship program inspired me to work on research on Women and financial inclusion in Myanmar through surveys and qualitative data," said Moe Thiri Myat.

She hopes the research findings and reports will be useful for other financial institutions in Myanmar currently working on women's financial inclusion for further undertaking approaches.

She added that she was able to apply the political and economic theories and research skills she learned from the class at Parami University to analyze the impacts of climate change on women. 

Another student, Kaung Myat Phyo (Kelvin), is interning at the US-ASEAN Business Council, an advocacy group for the mutually beneficial relations between the U.S. private business sector and ASEAN and for U.S. interests in ASEAN. 

Kelvin at US-ASEAN Business Council

His portfolios cover countries such as Myanmar and Laos and industries such as information and communication technology (ICT) and aerospace, defense, and security (ADS). Kelvin described his work as more or less demanding: "It has been a whole new life-changing experience for me, working closely with some bright minds at the center of Washington, D.C." 

Kelvin also found it fascinating to work with fellow interns who came from different cultures and backgrounds. He highlighted this opportunity as multicultural exposure, which is crucial for students and future leaders to develop empathy and inclusivity, which Parami upholds as a value. “Living with the American host family is also another way to be exposed to the American lifestyle,” said Kelvin. 

Naing Min Khant works at C4ADS, a group of data-loving global security trailblazers united by one goal: dismantling the forces that threaten global peace and security. 

He got to learn the technical tools to do investigative work. "Another crucial thing I am learning is how to be a good, responsible, and ethical analyst, as the technical tools I learned will be updated continuously," expressed Naing.  He has a chance to live at the International Student House, where students from around the world come and live for their summer internship at top United States institutions. "I met them, made friends, and exchanged our views on contemporary political, economic, and social issues,” Naing added.

He described his internship experience as exceeding his expectations and involving him and his fellow interns in an exciting project, such as investigating illicit networks that threaten global peace and security. 

The internship program also aims to cultivate the youth's leadership, global citizenship, and civic engagement capabilities in the Parami online undergraduate degree program.

“The world is evolving. It is beneficial to be a global citizen to adapt to the evolving world and to catch updates from other parts of the world." Naing added. However, the direction of the evolving world is often uncertain, making it difficult to predict what lies ahead. Civic engagement serves as a vital means of shaping this trajectory for the benefit of society. For this reason, young people in Myanmar and other parts of the world should remain aware of global developments and actively engage with them rather than turning a blind eye.

All students talked about their warm and welcoming experiences staying with host families. They are also able to exercise their skills in critical and analytical thinking, communication, and collaboration at work. Interacting with individuals with well-rounded knowledge highlights the importance of well-rounded education, which Parami's liberal arts education aims to offer.

“Parami helped me develop such research skills, critical thinking skills, and communication skills that helped me to be better equipped in the face of these new experiences," Kelvin highlighted.

As the internship is ongoing, students expressed that they are motivated to learn more from their internships and life experiences living abroad.