How is the Programme Structured?

Internships are typically 5 weeks long and take place during the summer months when the students are on holiday. The entire process of the intern programme is somewhat longer and is structured as follows:

October - December

The CAS Honorary Research Fellow at Cambridge University Dr Sean Butler, talks to students to gauge interest in completing an internship in a CGIAR centre.

January

Victoria Henson-Apollonio, the CAS-IP Manager, travels to Cambridge to interview potential interns and give a presentation on the CGIAR system and the nature of the projects they may be expected to complete.

January - March

CAS accepts applications from both potential interns and from CGIAR centres who wish to host an intern. ALL APPLICATIONS, BOTH FROM STUDENTS AND FROM CENTRES MUST BE MADE IN WRITING TO CAS-IP OFFICE NO LATER THAN 1ST MARCH.

March

Final selections are made and students are matched with centres. This part of the process is designed to arrive at a “best fit” of student and centre/project and typically involves extensive discussion between CAS-IP and St Edmund’s college. Centres and interns for whom suitable matches are made are notified.

April - June

Travel and accommodation arrangements are finalised.

July

Interns arrive in Rome at CAS-IP for a one week orientation. This is to familiarise students with the work of the CG system and, in particular, the centre they will travel to. It also provides guidance about what they should aim to achieve during their placement.

July - August

Students typically complete their internships in-centre during the summer. Internships can, and have, taken place later than this but only in exceptional circumstances.

September

Reports from both centres and interns are analysed and logged by CAS-IP ahead of preparations/improvements for the next cycle of the intern programme.