PACE_CENTER

The University’s unofficial motto, “In the Nation’s Service and in the Service of All Nations,” reflects Princeton’s commitment to creating the conditions for development and practice of active citizenship, by encouraging immersion in societies, cultures, and economic situations different from our own. Many students choose to participate outside the classroom in active learning about public service in order to gain the skills and experience to address the most challenging global issues of our time.

The primary immersion experience for such engaged learning is the summer public service internship. The Office of the Vice President for Campus Life, through the Pace Center, Princeton’s resource for civic engagement, and the Office of the Dean of the College, through the International Internship Program, encourage and support individual and group international summer public service internships that have clear and significant educational value for the student participants.

Summer public service internships allow students to learn about other cultures and peoples while contributing to the public good in specific communities across the globe.  The primary goal is to deepen the students’ understanding of current issues and public service work while enabling them to make substantive contributions to the organizations and communities in which they work. All internships include the cyclical process of learning and teaching–each opportunity for learning entails an obligation to learn from and share knowledge with others. We encourage such learning to complement a student’s academic work.  With proper preparation, including disciplined reflection, such immersion experiences promote the exploration of ethical and practical issues that will inform students’ understanding of and commitment to public service.

Many internships have been arranged specifically for Princeton students. These pre-arranged, established internship placements are fully funded, address a broad spectrum of global concerns, and have included work in humanitarian aid, civil and human rights, education, conservation, post-conflict reconstruction, social entrepreneurship, finance and business development, and policy development. For more information on established international placements, contact the Pace Center or the International Internship Program.

Princeton encourages student entrepreneurship, and as a result, some students choose to propose a new internship and seek University support. For these students, there are a variety of funding opportunities. To find out more about funding resources and support of these internships, contact the Pace Center.

All international public service internships require an on-site commitment of full-time work for a minimum of 8 contiguous weeks, and must focus on meeting these educational criteria:

1. Learning about an issue or policy in a non-classroom setting
2. Learning about the workings of the sponsoring organization (typically a non-governmental organization (NGO) or government agency)
3. Contributing meaningfully to the work of that organization, and
4. Sharing the knowledge gained with the appropriate audience (the organization, its clients, and/or the University community).

For all internships, the educational value must outweigh the risk and cost, and risk and cost must be kept to a minimum. The opportunity to observe another culture or community outside the United States will not be in itself a justification for support.

Internships that meet the criteria described above are eligible to be considered for University funding to offset the costs associated with travel and living expenses necessary to complete the internship. If the internship meets the University’s guidelines, it will be eligible for University funding and insurance coverage.

The Pace Center supports these internships by providing on-going advising, pre-departure preparation (for safety and security, health concerns, cultural awareness, background about the issues, and guidance on the work world), regular support during the summer immersion experience, and guidance on the post-internship opportunities to share the experience and learning with others. In addition, Pace evaluates all internships, making sure they are high-quality learning opportunities.

The Pace Center advises groups of students who wish to start their own service project. In recent years, Princeton students have traveled to western China to run an English-language immersion program for Chinese university students, to Huamanzana, Peru to install efficient wood-burning stoves to combat health and environmental problems, and to the village of Kumudo in Ethiopia to build a dam and install an irrigation system. Students who wish to create a group public service project should contact the Pace Center for additional support and guidance.

Application Process

1. Before applying for a summer international public service internship, first secure a public service internship that meets the criteria and requirements stated previously. For assistance in finding a high-quality opportunity, contact the Pace Center or the International Internship Program.
2. Review the University’s risk management guidelines and the Undergraduate Travel Policy. Register all trips on the University Travel Database.
3. Complete the application for funding to support unpaid summer international public service internships. The application is available on-line. (Note: Students whose internships have been approved but not funded, or only partially funded, may be able to apply for funds from some academic departments, specific alumni classes, or other University programs. For information on further funding options, consult the funding information section of the Summer Internships page on the Pace Center web site.)
4. The University encourages its students to participate in public service, and will work with applicants to revise their proposals to meet the requirements. Resources provided to support international summer internships include, but are not limited to, pre-travel cultural orientation services; links to agencies and organizations; funding for student travel and associated support; guidance in developing a pre-departure learning plan; ongoing reflective processing during the summer; and post-travel reflection and assessment sessions. Please contact the Pace Center for assistance.

International Break Trips

Princeton does not support international public service break trips because of concerns about responsible and effective service, risk management, and fiscal responsibility, and will not provide funding or sponsorship for students to participate in them.

Instead, students wishing to participate in international public service immersion experiences are encouraged to pursue a summer public service internship. The summer international public service internship experience provides a broader opportunity to learn about current issues and public service work, and to contribute more significantly to the work of the sponsoring organization.