Internships as a Catalyst for Change

Jun 26, 2025
9:00 am-10:10 am

Internships as a Catalyst for Change

This plenary will explore the transformative power of global internship programs as catalysts for personal, organizational, and societal change. This session will demonstrate how internships, especially those with a global component, can reshape both individual trajectories and institutional priorities. The panel will highlight the employer perspective on the benefits of hosting global interns and integrating them into organizational strategies, as well as the ways in which NGOs that support internship programs equip young professionals with the skills and mindset to innovate, lead startups, and contribute to economic development.

Speakers

Bukky Adebowale

Policy Education Officer, Irish Network Against Racism

Jessica Lora

Project Manager in Industrial Participation, Aerospace & Defense

Ketevan Chincharadze

Foreign Policy Analyst and Researcher, FYI

Paul Roben

Associate Vice Chancellor, Innovation & Technology Commercialization, University of California, San Diego

Stacy Benjamin

Director of Special Programs, CIEE