Sanford School of Public Policy
Duke University

Duke in Geneva Program Blog

Join a group of past participants as they document their lives as interns, tourists and students of Geneva. View Blog

Disclaimer: Opinions expressed by student bloggers are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Sanford School of Public Policy. The Sanford School is not responsible for the accuracy of information supplied by student bloggers and is not liable for errors or omissions, nor related losses, injuries or damages.

Praise from Program Participants

"Thanks to the reputation that the Duke program has cultivated, we were treated to intimate dialogues with diplomats, ambassadors, and high ranking officials from prominent NGOs. I was consistently impressed by the access that we were given through meetings and site visits. When not networking or at my internship, my summer was spent exploring the region, swimming in the lake, and enjoying free films in the park." Adrian Macias, Duke University, 2011 participant

"This summer was an unbelievable experience that provided me with the opportunity to meet wonderful mentors, as well as listen to and engage with leaders in various fields. It has undoubtedly shaped my career goals. It was also a tremendous way to explore various cultures and educational opportunities. Furthermore, I met an unbelievable group of fellow participants that I am so grateful to have gotten to know!" Priyanka Kanakamedala, 2011 participant

"The Duke Global Health Fellows Program was a marvelous opportunity to gain a better understanding of the biggest challenges facing global health today, both through practice and theory, from the workplace to the classroom. From networking with some of the foremost leaders in their fields of work to contributing to the mission of the World Health Organization, I had a fantastic time in Geneva this summer!" Abdullah Feroze, University of New Mexico, 2010 participant

“Working at the World Health Organization gave me invaluable experience and the credibility I needed to pursue a career in health policy. The site visits gave us a great glimpse into renowned organizations from the inside and helped me establish a highly advantageous professional network. I will come away from Geneva having gotten to know such a diverse group of people, many of whom will continue to be part of my personal and professional life. I feel very lucky to have had this experience and for this reason alone would recommend the program!” Ilaria Regondi, 2008 participant

“The Geneva program gave me a thorough understanding about how international organizations work, specifically how they are involved in the policy-making process. My internship at International Risk Governance Council helped me to develop important skills, such as practical risk assessment methodology, that will be essential for my future career as an energy policy analyst.” Saori Tokuoka, 2008 participant

“For me, the Duke program offers three extraordinary opportunities. First, it mixes theoretical learning with practical experience. I was able to study the dilemmas and controversies facing humanitarian aid today both in the classroom and in practice through my internship at the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. The second opportunity the Duke program offers is the ability to dialogue openly with field experts. We were exposed to the highest level of experts in development - people who had led missions during the war in Iraq, had worked with rape victims after civil conflicts or had just returned from assessing the refugee situation in Lebanon. These experts shared their professional backgrounds with us, but - even more valuable - they shared their personal stories, too. We were encouraged to ask them anything - from how to get a job in their organization to how they managed a family with their work to whether or not they would have done things differently looking back on the choices they made. Finally, the third extraordinary opportunity was the chance to meet and really get to know other program participants. I found the discussions stimulated by the students themselves were equally as important as the classes, the internships and the exchange with experts. The discussions we had outside of the classroom were eye-opening, at times difficult, but always motivating. I built lasting friendships through the program. No other program manages to combine these three opportunities in the way that the Duke program does, and it was the perfect compliment to my graduate studies.” Tanya (Toni) De Mello, 2006 participant

 

 

 

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