Call for Applications – UBONGO
10-12 Week Paid Internship Summer or Fall 2017
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Ubongo, a leading Edutainment company based in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, is seeking up to three University of Texas students to participate in a 10-12 week paid internship in Summer 2017. Ubongo is a social enterprise that creates interactive edutainment for kids in Africa. Ubongo broadcasts educational TV cartoons and radio programs programs in Swahili, English and French in over 26 countries. Ubongo also conducts extensive analytical research on children’s educational learning through media.
Ubongo is interested in University of Texas student interns (graduate or undergraduate) with interests and skills in education and development, research and data analytics, infographics, program evaluation, grant writing, proposal design and management, and quantitative and qualitative fieldwork skills (e.g. focus group design and rapid experiments around student learning). The ideal UT student candidate will have a strong interest in children’s education with a focus on East Africa, and a strong desire to learn new skills and work independently in a creative work environment. Swahili skills are welcome, but not necessary for these positions.
Ubongo is also interested in welcoming proposals from undergraduate or graduate students from across the UT campus who may be interested in working with Ubongo during the Fall 2017 and/or Winter 2018 semesters on student-initiated projects that fit with the Ubongo’s mission. Students may align this work, for example, with undergraduate or graduate thesis work or study abroad. All things equal, preference will be given to Liberal Arts students (particularly those enrolled in Plan II), but all UT students – graduate and undergraduate – are encouraged to apply.
Students serving in summer internships will receive stipends in the amount of approximately $6500 to cover the costs of travel, housing, and other expenses. Students seeking fall or winter internships will need to develop a budget proposal, in consultation with Dr. Weaver.
Note: all UT students participating in sponsored internships must secure travel authorization from the UT International Office prior to travel. More information on UT’s travel policy can be found at https://world.utexas.edu/risk/authorization/students
Application Instructions
Please complete and submit the following materials by February 15, 2017 to Drs. Catherine Weaver and Michael Findley, Co-Directors, Innovations for Peace and Development at ceweaver@austin.utexas.edu.
- Information Cover Sheet
- Full Name
- Contact Information (email address, phone number, physical address)
- Current student rank at The University of Texas (e.g. “Third Year Undergraduate; “First Year MA student”)
- Major(s) at the University of Texas
- Planned year of graduation
- The names and contact information for three professional or academic references
- Cover letter
- Please address this to Dr. Weaver and Dr. Michael Findley, Co-Directors of Innovations for Peace and Development and Ms. Nisha Ligon, CEO of Ubongo
- Discuss why you may be interested in this internship opportunity with Ubongo
- Describe your key interests and skills that may align with the objectives of this internship program
- Describe any prior travel or work experience (including research experience) that may be relevant to this position
- Please describe your foreign language skills
- Please tell us how this internship opportunity would benefit your own educational and professional objectives
- Any additional information you would like the selection committee to consider
- Professional Resume (1-2 pages)
- Unofficial transcript
We will review applications in early February and conduct interviews (by phone or on campus) in mid to late February. Decisions will be made by mid-March 2017.
For further information, please contact Dr. Catherine Weaver, Co-Director, Innovations for Peace and Development (IPD), at ceweaver@austin.utexas.edu. More information on IPD can be found at http://www.ipdutexas.org and Ubongo at http://www.ubongo.co.
****Students should note that there will be some training and preparation required through the Innovation for Peace and Development program during the spring 2017 semester****