O'Neill Global Leadership Program

The mission of the Global Leadership Program is to provide O’Neill graduate students with intensive, immersive, and impactful international internship opportunities related to their degrees.

O’Neill offers three international internship programs specifically for graduate students who want to gain leadership and work experience abroad. Become a GLP Portugal Fellow and work in an NGO, nonprofit, public or private sector internship in Portugal, a GLP Brazil Fellow and intern in the Brazilian Federal Government, or a GLP Guatemala Fellow and work in poverty alleviation programs. Selected students will receive funding to participate in these programs.

Click the options below to learn more about individual programs.

Global Leadership Program in Portugal

Global Leadership Program in Brazil

Global Leadership Program in Guatemala

Hear more details about the Global Leadership Programs.

Description of the video:

Okay, awesome. So this is an info session on the Global Leadership Program. Again, we will talk about the Brazil program and also the Portugal opportunity today. So this is, these are two pretty distinct types of programs. So the Portugal program is through a partnership with the Luso- American Development Foundation, they are a non-profit, it's very long standing. in Portugal, they have a lot of non-profit, public sector, even private sector connections. They typically help organize, like study abroad programs, but have, in recent years gone into the international internship realm in their whole goal is to kind of connect American students, students coming from the US to, to Portugal and vice versa. So all about kind of cultural exchange. the international internship piece of it is a really big piece of like their goals to, to implement. So we are a partner with them. We can send ten students. The way that that program works is that you will apply through us. We take anyone from any of our graduate majors, We'll take applications from anyone from any of our graduate majors. We do have an interview process. We interview people to make sure we're selecting the folks that will be the most successful in these internships. We then pass your name on to FLAD. That's the acronym for Luso- American Development Foundation. And FLAD works with all of their network within the country to facilitate placements that will match the students' interest areas. So that's the gist, that's kind of how Brazil works as well. However, instead of working through a non-profit, we're working through a university down there, ENAP trains their government officials. That would that be accurate? Miranda? Yeah. So many of their kind of bureaucrats go through this university and so they will similarly, we take the applications, we vet students, we select students, and then we pass on your names to ENAP and they find relevant placements within the Brazilian federal government. So you can see these are two kind of very different opportunities. If you're more interested in government or South America, the Brazil program is maybe better for you. However, Portugal has placements in public sector as well. So if you're more interested in Europe and more kind of, EU kind of things. You can go there too, as well as non-profits. That's the kind of interesting non-profit and private sector. That's the interesting piece of the Portugal program as well. So let me see if I can share my screen really quick to just show. Okay, Can we see my screen? Okay, so here's our website for Global Leadership program. I'll go to Portugal first. So the Portugal program- Let me go to details, so the Portugal program does charge a program fee. So the program fee is 2500 dollars. It includes all of these features here. You get the guaranteed placement related to your degree, lodging for two months in Lisbon, public transportation pass so you can take the metro wherever you need to go. There'll be a 24 hour emergency contact person that checks in with you, I believe weekly. Comprehensive health insurance, there's a couple trips that they'll arrange for the group. I'm looking at this- yeah. so one in Lisbon, and one outside to still be able to understand different parts of Portugal and see the, see the culture and things like that. And then just other types of support and other facilities that you will have access to. So it's a pretty comprehensive program fee. The only thing not included and this would be your flight. And your meals Day-to-day Day-to-day meals. We've been told by the partners that like daily living expenses are pretty affordable in Portugal maybe the most affordable in Western Europe. So food, if you aren't, if you're planning to eat at like, kind of more studenty type of restaurants and cafes. And I believe you'll have access to like, student like oh my gosh, why can I not think of the word like, where they eat when, where do you eat when you live in a dorm? I think, yeah. Like a cafeteria? Yes, cafeteria. So I think you'll have access to a university like cafeteria too I mean, if you are looking to do the cheapest possible kind of food situation. So really we're just flight and kind of daily daily expenses because your lodging will be included in the program fee. The exciting part of this year is that because this is a new program, O'Neill is going to support everyone doing this program with a $1500 stipend. So that brings the program fee down to $1000. If you have if you were awarded any kind of stipend through your admissions process, that can also apply to this. So it can bring the feet down to nothing. As far as i'm I don't know how big those stipends through the MPO are, but It's very affordable for some, for a program like this with all of these features with other vendors, you'd be looking at a $10,000 program fee. So I think we're really lucky to have this opportunity. Placements- So these are the six areas that FLAD has kind of outlined as general areas where they can find placements for students. They are going to be probably reaching out to all selected students right after they're admitted just to kind of get a better feel for what your guys' interests are and what would be your ideal situation. That would be the time for you to share. I really want to work in the private sector in security or you know share whatever your most specific kind of dreams and wishes would be for your placement. And also other things like, you know, they might ask like what kind of skills you have to contribute to like a more tech focused internship if that's you're interested in. So that's going to be a really important meeting to that you'll attend with with your FLAD kind of coordinators. Let's see, Miranda, do you want to talk about the experiential credit? Absolutely. So most, many of you are going to have a degree requirement for internship for your degree program. If you've happened to have had it waived due to previous experience. This wouldn't apply to you unless you are interested in earning credit for the international internship as an elective credit. So you can earn up to three credits for this international experience. Given the amount of hours that you'll be completing for your internship. Or you can register for zero credits. So zero to three is your option for both Brazil and Portugal. So if you don't have your internship requirement waived, due to previous experience, MPA and MSCS and dual students are required to enroll in at least 0 credits of E585 or E589. So 0 credits would mean it would be meeting your degree requirement, but you wouldn't be paying any tuition for that experience, but it would be on your transcript and it would meet that degree requirement. However, if you're looking to earn credits, you'd want to meet with your academic advisor and make sure that that falls within your academic plan for graduation, but you can earn up to three credits. For MAA students this would meet your requirements for your internships and art and administration under Y750. And that's for three credits. So that's a little in a little bit different between the degree programs, but you would registered for three credits under Y750 and any credits that you elect for this program will be charged tuition and will not be included in the program fee. So that would be a separate choice that you make if you'd want to do this experience for credit. Great. The last piece I'll say, and then maybe we'll open it up to questions about Portugal before we move on to Brazil. We have a pretty extensive pre-departure support process for students doing international internship, so you'll be selected. Applications are due November first. Interviews will be in early to mid November. We're hoping to send out acceptances right before Thanksgiving break and then asking for you to accept us back by by the week after Thanksgiving break, we give you a week and a half or so to decide after that. You'll be doing the meeting with FLAD probably in December or January and then we start with monthly meetings leading up to your pre-departure. We're helping with things regarding like planning your travel or like budgeting. Visas used to be an issue for Brazil, I believe we don't need visas anymore, but visa planning and for international students, we would help you work with you, oftentimes you would need a visa. So, visa planning, we'll have the partners in Portugal come and give a little presentation on kind of work culture in Portugal and what to expect in terms of working with a team and a professional kind of atmosphere. So we'll meet every month, January to May, and then your departure will be you'll be starting the internship around June 1st. So I'm not exactly sure what day that lands on, but it's as close to June 1st, whatever that Monday would be. So hopefully getting everyone kind of ready and prepped. You do not need Portuguese language skills to do either of these programs. They both happened to randomly be in places where Portuguese is the main language, we did not plan that, but, but we really highly recommend self study if you are selected just as, as a show of respect to the host culture that you'll be living in and to be able to get around, do basic things. So students in the past on Brazil have done just Duolingo, some have gotten like a private tutor prior. And then while they were on the ground there, so there's a lot of different options for that and we can certainly help arrange some of those things if that's of interest. Yeah. Okay. To say you don't have to, you don't need Portugese to complete your internship or, or, you know, essentially you can get around with English in both countries, but it would, if you do know Portuguese or take it upon yourself, like Ashley mentioned, to learn some basic Portuguese before you leave, you'll have a more enriching experience. And that's what we've heard from this is the first year for Portugal, but that's what we've heard from the last couple of years for students who went to Brazil had a much more meaningful or experience. they're glad that they did take Portuguese and students who didn't came back and said they wish they would have. So definitely a piece of advice for you from previous. Yeah. Okay. So what questions does everyone have about the Portugal program so far? Can also move on to Brazil if you want to see the full picture before having questions. Okay, I'm not seeing anyone, so I'll just talk about Brazil here for a second. So the Brazil program, like I said, is through a partnership with a ENAP. They are school of public administration in Brasilia, Brazil. So we work with them, they have connections to the federal government, as we mentioned, and they are able to place our students in different ministries and departments within the federal government for internships for the summer. The length is similar, I'm not sure we've totally solidified it, but it's going to be somewhere from eight to ten weeks in the summer, most likely that June, July period. We have there is no program fee for Brazil, So that's something noteworthy so that it doesn't charge any program fee. You will get an placement related to your degree and interests. You'll be part of a focus your research project as part of your work for your ministry. Different site visits to Brazilian government, departments and things like that, assistance locating affordable housing on the ground. We have also on-the-ground coordinator who's there for you, 24/7 and from what we've heard, she's just a treasure of a person and we just that we wish we could work with her more than just on this program, but she's kind of like your internship mom kind of I mean, from what we've heard, she's there whenever you need her, taking you guys out to dinner, having her over to her house. She works for ENAP right? She works for ENAP right? Mm-hm. Yup. So there's really great support on the ground. It's a very affordable place to be, and you're right in the heart of Brazilian federal government happenings. So a very unique program. Previous placements have included, I guess we put it in the body here- Ministry of the Environment, Ministry of Education, Ministry of planning, development, and management. What was Sydney's placement? I feel like that one was different. It was like trade and economic development or something like that. So we also had ministry of mines. A lot of times the ministries will change names too and be combined so some of the ministries that we'll be working with, this summer might be a little bit different, but we've also had placement in the Brazilian version of the Senate. And so really amazing access, its outstanding access for American students or students in American universities to be able to have access to Brazilian federal government ministries or departments. Something which regretfully we're not able to do an exchange because of the levels of security within our government. You will be able to be around some of the really high level officials and be able to work on really interesting projects within the federal government. Right. Like I said, no program fee and you students on this program will also receive a $1500 stipend. So in the past, students have put that towards the plane ticket that can be a little pricey and then or save it and put it towards your lodging or whatever, whatever works for you. You can also apply your internship stipend, to the admissions process to this. And then also I forgot to mention on the Portugal side, but for both programs, the Greater Good Internship Fund is also a resource. These are both unpaid internships and so you are eligible to apply for that funding that is specifically set aside for unpaid internships. The greater good. It's linked here on the website. Same deal for experiential credit, right? Miranda, right? Yep. Yep. 0 to three credits for MPA MSCS, or dual and three credit for MAA students. Yeah, Whoever with this one. There's really most, not most, all the opportunities are really more geared towards MPA students with also some students who would be interested in like a Ministry of Environment or Ministry of Mines, that would be more geared towards environmental, but it's, it definitely more on the policy side than on like you wouldn't be out doing fieldwork or anything like that. Right. And we've talked to the partners too because we've had MAAA and MPA/MAAA students interested in this program in the past and I mean there are certainly ministry, like Ministry of Culture and like what would it be called? Like tourism and things like that. So we haven't had students be placed in those in the past, but that's definitely a possibility. So the great thing about both these programs is that the partners are working to find placements that are going to be relevant to you guys. So. Okay. Miranda, Have I missed anything? No. So both applicants, both products both applications close on November 1st. You'll link click to the link on the page there, and this is off of the O'Neill website and then you go to the International Programs. and then you go to Bloomington programs, and you'll submit some basic information about yourself and your academics. You'll submit a cover letter that really outlines specifically why you're interested in this program, how it will benefit you academically and professionally in your future careers. And what you would then be giving back to the internship program- what would make you a good intern for the Brazil or Portugal program. You'll also submit your resume, So I work in the O'Neill rear hub and if you need help with your application materials, we're open Monday through Friday. You don't need an appointment. Stop by anytime 10:00 AM to 04:00 PM. And that's in SPIA 200 right on the other side of the international office. And this is a great time to just ask questions in general because this is a, it's truly about a fit for you. So when we look at students and select them for the program, you know, we look for skills like inter-cultural competencies, basic skills you're going to have as being a graduate student and a great school. But we're also looking for a good fit and somebody's going to adapt well for these programs. On the other side, we're just looking for a good fit for you and making sure that this is the right choice for you, for your summer. As we know, internships are very important to kinda kick-start your career. We want to make sure that this is a good fit for you working with employers, I can say that if you're looking to go into an international career, whether it's with the non-profits, whether it's governmental, whether it's a multinational corporation- If you want to work internationally, the best experience you can gain is international experience, because there's certainly going to look for that on your resume. So this is a great way to do that. So I'll stop talking. Let you all talk. Okay, we have a question from Jamie in the chat. Is there anything in particular we should include in resumes experience wise. Miranda, welI I can just say the partner, I know, especially for Portugal they were looking to see like if you are, for instance, looking for a policy analysis placement, be sure to list in your resume that you can use R and SPSS and those type of things. So anything that would be relevant to you like a placement that you would want, I would make sure to include and then Miranda probably has like some better general advice about resumes than me. No, I mean, I think that's great. So really if you're tailoring your resume, resume as it is if you are going to apply to x type of organization in Brazil or Portugal. So thinking about from their point of view, what skills do I want to see on that resume that would make you a qualified applicant if you have language skills, it's great to put them on there, even if it's not, Portuguese, show the adaptability or the ability to learn languages outside of your native language. And then for us on the selection committee- ya know, if you do have experience working with diverse populations, if you have international experience, if you have, if you shown adaptability, whether that's internationally or domestically, working in areas outside of your, your general comfort zone that will help us in feeling comfortable sending you really as a representative of the US into for instance, in Brazil, you know, foreign countries, federal office, and then in Portugal as a, as a symbol or as a representative of our school and the US. So we're looking for that adaptability and professionalism. So if you can convey that in your bullet points, would love to see that too. What other questions are out there? Student: Hi, thanks for doing this info session. Is there any limitation or restriction as to applying for both of these programs? We haven't talked about that. Great question. And yeah, I mean, certainly we would obviously ask you to make that choice. And since we're the same selection committee is for both, we would certainly be having that conversation. I don't see I don't see anything that would make you a better fit for one over the other. So it would probably if you're accepted, you would probably have your choice of programs. That would be my my expectation, but no apply for them both if you're interested in them. Yeah. Okay. Thank you. I was wondering if you had any dual master students for MPA/ MSCS in the past for the Brazil program. So we had Emily. Emily, Yeah. So we had I believe, two students last time around. So it certainly is like a little more policy focused. But you're going to be seeing research information come in that has, if you have that additional science lense to be able to interpret that data and look at it. You know, they had, they, they both had a really great experience. But once again, you're not going to be out in the rain forest collecting research, but you certainly would be able to be on the front side of experiencing Brazil politics, policy in relation to the environment. So we wouldn't put you in a non-environmental ministry if that's the area you want to be. Does that makes sense? Student: Yeah, thanks. Yeah. And I think if my memory is correct, the most recent dual students we had, it was a little bit of an odd year because it was the year I think that the new president who took over and like eliminated I feel like eliminated the environmental and I mean, maybe not that severe, but like the ministry of the environment was like pretty drastically altered. Yeah, I think they combined it with the mining ministry. Which depending on the perspective that you're coming from with your environmental lens, It's certainly you're going to be in a country that has different policies than the US. Very different. What Brazil does with its environmental space has impact on the rest of the world. So it could be a really fascinating place to be, even if the policies don't happen to align with your predilections or your personal politics. Yeah. What else is everyone curious about or questions, lingering questions. I mean, even ask us anything. Ya know, where do I do my laundry? What's the food like? I can tell you its very dry in Brazil, there's lots of meats. There is a very neat, heavy, at least in Brasilia, because you're away from the coast. It's just right now. I'm a vegetarian. So this is the experience. But lots of wonderful food is what I'm told. Very dry. You just want to make sure that you honestly like that you stay hydrated because it's part of the, you know, you're in the desert sort of area and it's a very dry time of year. Hold on. I'm sorry. Is Portugal very vegetarian friendly? Here's my personal perspective on that. I, I was there a couple years ago and I'm vegetarian and I found it to be, Yeah, you can find plenty of vegetarian food. However, it's a very fishy place. So it's going to be fish everywhere, but you don't have to eat it, obviously. But Lisbon especially is such a like cosmopolitan, just a really funky, cool place to be. It's such a fun city and I haven't been to Brasilia, but I would say the Portugal program, It's like you're going to have it, there's going to be so much to do. I mean, you're going to have your placement and then. All the other students and your coworkers, certainly on both programs. We've heard for Brazil and we heard we should expect this for Portugal that people are just so friendly- the culture is very much like come to dinner at my house, like meet my friends, like so we feel really confident people will get really integrated into the culture and into like friendships if that's what you're looking for, that type of thing, it's going to be an inviting atmosphere on both programs. Yeah, certainly to say there's not a vegetarian in Brazil it's just if you like meat , there's lots of good meat. But it's an, it's a planned city that Brasilia is a planned city. So it is, is it's different than Lisbon because it's essentially an area that was cleared out to build a capital. And so it's not necessarily that the biggest, I would say, cultural attraction. It's more of an attraction because it's the seat of government and you have people from all over the world coming to work with the Brazilian federal government. So you meet a lot of really great people, but it doesn't necessarily have the museums and the nightlife and that sort of thing that you'll get from Portugal. So depending on where you're interested in gaining that experience. And our students on the Brazil program, they have made time on the weekends or like at the end of the program you travel throughout Brazil or even like South America in general. So that's definitely a choice you can make with your cohort mates or by yourself, or have someone come meet you since you're already down there. We've seen all kinds of things from the result, the Brazil in returns and seems relatively easy to get flights and explore pretty inexpensively. So that's an option too. Student: I think you've probably answered this question by just what you said. But is there any kind of like after the trip programming that we're required to do. And then also, if you could speak at all to I guess the work explication, just like with regard to hours is it mostly like, you know, what one would expect a typical government work? like a 9-5? Yeah, I would say with Brazil, you know, it's it's a little flexible. The culture is a little different. So there are some days that are, There's a lot of holidays going on during that time of year. And so there'll be some federal holidays that will be days off. And then it is kind of like a nine to five with sometimes extended lunch period, sometimes leaving early for social gatherings. I would say expect to work about 35 hours a week at the most and it's definitely going to be like a business professional environment. So, you know, go to work as you would dressed to work in governments in the US. What was your first part of your question? I've already forgotten. Just if there was any programming after the experience that we needed to do. Yeah. I mean, we would definitely suggest a career point of view- we definitely suggest you come back and work with a career consultant on your resumes and make sure that your quantifying and describing your experience and the best way possible on your resume and on your Linkedin. And then Ashley, were you going to say something? I was just going to to say we do try to do like debrief interviews with everyone who returns, but that would just probably be with me and Miranda. It's not anything like a formal programming thing. Sometimes the international office will host like a returnee reception from all of our international programs. So definitely not required, but a possibility to come and eat food and talk about your experience. No, nothing like super formal in terms if post program requirements. However, I think it's really beneficial to do this the debrief in general because a lot of students come back from these programs, you know, changed forever. You know, it's going to change the way you look at the world. It's going to change maybe your trajectory for your career path it's going to change, maybe the way you look at certain policies. So it's great to just come back and just have those debriefing conversations. You know, its nothing like Peace Corps where you really need to debrief. It's just the summer, but it is very monumental. Transformative for many people. Yeah. Yeah. Jamie asked in the chat. I'm wondering if you anticipate that everyone who applies, will go into the interview process and then narrowed down from there. It really depends, I think, on our pool of applicants and the number of applicants. Would you say that, Miranda? Yeah. I mean, there's only... What you know, if you I think if you meets the majority of the qualifications, we'll want to have a conversation with you. So I would foresee a good amount of applicants making it to the interview process, but we can't really say until we see the the pool. Yeah. So the interview process and we can talk a little bit about that. So it'll be representatives from both of our offices and then also the master's program in the Dean's office. And it's really mostly just kind of coming for us to get to know you why you want to do the program, what you're going to bring to the program. From an interview point of view, this is like a panel behavioral cell interview where you're going to be asked just questions about your competencies, your previous experiences. What you wanna do, do why you want to do this program, why you're excited about the program? And then we'll look at everyone's application materials and make the selections from there. And you all can reach out to us. I'll put our e-mails in the chat. If you think of any questions. Ashley I don't know your email. I can put mine in. I thought I had it memorized. That's not helpful to anybody. Yeah. Let us know if you have any questions that come up or as you're putting your materials together, remember that November 1st is the deadline to submit and we are excited about launching Brazil again and Portugal for the first time. Really great partnerships with organizations brought to us by our outstanding faculty so really unique opportunities. I might say one last thing about COVID stuff. I'll just briefly so we feel, so IU is very supportive of us sending students, want to make it work hover we can with whatever safety features in place that we need Portugal is in, I don't know if anyone follows the news on COVID much anymore these days, but Portugal is in fantastic shape. I think over 80% of their population is vaccinated, and in terms of like eligible people to be vaccinated, It's like almost every I feel like it was like over 95% of people vaccinated. They don't have many cases. It's a very, seemingly very safe place to be, so we feel pretty confident Portugal will be able to move forward, COVID wise, of course, with any international programming in this atmosphere of the pandemic. It's always just a little in question, but we get our guidance from the state department and from the CDC and from IU. And so there's not going to be a scenario where we send you to an unsafe place. We just won't be able to send if if those sources are saying that we shouldn't. That being said, like I said, IU really want the programs to resume. So we'll do everything we can to make sure that these can go forward. Brazil is in a little bit less certain of a place with COVID right now and things can change drastically in six to nine months, So you never know, and that's why we're still kind of recruiting and planning on it. However, with Brazil, I would be a little more. Just know that like we'll be working with you on contingency planning should something happen and perhaps things will even improve before we even start our pre-departure stuff in January. So it might be a non-issue, but we're just sharing with everyone whose doing our study abroad programs and intern abroad programs that we'll be working with everyone on contingency planning and that there's definitely extra safety features in place and we'll be sharing those with selected students, so not to be concerned about any of that stuff. Yeah, Okay. I think I think that's a good point in general and I'll be done but to have parallel plans for your internship. Looking for internships over the summer, we all want you to have amazing internships in the best way to do that is have a lot of different fires, hands on the fire and make sure you're exploring a lot of different options on what you can do over the summer and then make your final choices about what's the best choice for your development in your career path moving forward. But we're excited to meet with you today and glad you're interested in the program and let us know if you have any questions moving forward. Yeah. So we can we'll turn off the recording maybe and we'll stick around for a few minutes if anyone has questions, but if not, thank you guys so much for being with us and hope to see your applications.

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