SEAMEO - Canada Internship Programme 

Record of Interns: Hyperlink to record of internship in Excel file.

Background

The Canadian International Development Agency’s International Youth Internship Programme is a youth employment program, financed by Human Resources Development Canada, which offers recent graduates the opportunity to gain a valuable first work experience in an international development setting. CIDA allocates up to $15,000 per intern to organizations that are willing and capable of managing international internships.

International Internships create new market opportunities and consequently, new jobs are a way to diversify Canada's trading partners, particularly in emerging markets in Asia, Latin America and Africa. They also provide Canadian youth with the necessary skills to work and interact in a foreign setting and offer Canadian youth a valuable international experience in the field to equip them for the global work place and to contribute to Canada's development effort.

The programme’s principal source of support, Human Resources Development (HRD) Canada, had been restructured in 2004; Medicine Hat College, SEAMEO’s main partner, has discontinued the programme due to resource limitations. An agreement was established with the Commonwealth of Learning for the 2005 programme cycle.

Criteria for Partner Organizations
In order to participate in this programme, Partner Organizations must:

1. Have international projects or affiliation in CIDA-eligible countries;
2. Be in a sound financial position;
3. Offer a structured 6-12 month work experience for new graduates in a field related to their education or training;
4. Provide support to interns so they can find meaningful and career-related employment opportunities; and
5. Invest in the internship costs ("in-kind" or in cash).

Criteria for intern
In order to participate the intern must meet the following criteria:

1. A university, college or technical institute diploma in areas related to position or certification that the Intern is about to graduate;
2. Be a Canadian citizen between the ages of 19 and 30 who is unemployed or underemployed;
3. Have a basic knowledge of foreign language or be prepared to learn, if required;
4. Understanding and commitment to the project goals;
5. Sensitivity to cross-cultural situations;
6. Maturity and emotional stability;
7. Health and resilience, skill set of value to the project;
8. Display an openness to learning and agree to meet the objectives of the Internship;
9. Prior knowledge of host country is a definite asset;
10. Approach Internship with a positive attitude and readiness to work; and
11. The presentation of a clear and concise career path plan or a job search strategy will be a definite asset.

Programme Priorities
Internships should fall under (at least) one of CIDA's six programme priorities:

• Basic human needs
• Women in development
• Infrastructure service
• Human rights, democratic development, good governance
• Private sector development
• Environment

Program Components
Interns will participate in a three-stage program comprised of:

Pre-departure Period: Interns will undertake up to two months of work attachment at the ACCC Secretariat involved in an international development project during which time preliminary job search support will also be provided. Where necessary, ACCC will facilitate basic language training. Interns will also participate in a three-day briefing session prior to departure.

Overseas Assignment: Interns will work with a host/partner organization in a developing country for up to six months starting June 1998.

Job Search Support Period: During the pre-departure period, interns will benefit from registration of their resume on the National Graduate Register, ACCC Curriculum Vitae Database and referral to NGOs and private sector organizations. Upon their return they will undergo a professional assessment of their skills and competencies and will be given referral to local college placement centres. The project will track interns employment for a period of three years.

Anticipated Results

• Increase Canadian youth exposure to employment opportunities in the international arena;
• Enhancement of individual intern’s workplace skills, international competence and employment prospects;
• Increase in the post-graduation placement rate of Canadian college and institute students;
• Increase in international awareness of skills and competencies of Canadian youth;
• Increase the international expertise resident within the Canadian youth labour force;
• Enhance the intern’s job search network both nationally and internationally; and,
• Increase youth awareness of international cooperation issues.

Programme Objective

The programme aims to provide practical work experiences in the international arena to young graduates or graduating students from Canadian colleges and technical institutes and/or universities.