On the morning of July 17, 2024, the Shanghai International Organization Youth Talent Summer Camp held a special Youth Talk session, hosted by Associate Professor Bian Cui from the UNESCO Teacher Education Centre (TEC). The session invited Meng Wenting, an expert who has worked/researched at UNESCO; Xu Jinjie, an expert with experience at the OECD; and Yan Wenle, an expert having worked/researched at the World Bank, to share insights on working and interning in international organizations.
First, Dr. Meng Wenting, drawing on her own experience, delivered a talk on UNESCO career planning under the theme Strategies for Career Development in International Organizations. She argued that young people in the new era, with more choices, should balance global concerns with personal development, knowledge and abilities with character building, on-the-ground practice with strategic planning. She emphasized the importance of practical work, expanding career options, and laying a solid foundation of professional capabilities.
Next, Associate Professor Xu Jinjie introduced the overall organizational structure of the OECD, detailed the selection criteria and recruitment process for OECD internships, and analyzed the application procedures and requirements based on his work experience. He highlighted the significance of professional skills in applications, providing practical suggestions and guidance for campers.
Finally, Associate Professor Yan Wenle, from a unique personal perspective and based on her own experience, shared the procedures and processes of applying for positions at the World Bank, outlined the core competencies required for work there, and emphasized the importance of resumes, self-awareness, communication skills, and leadership. Her sharing offered a broader perspective for the campers.
In the interactive Q&A session following the speeches, campers actively spoke up, combining their own academic and internship experiences to engage in in-depth interactions with the guests. The guests patiently answered questions about the work content and career development paths in international organizations, creating a lively atmosphere.
In the afternoon, the summer camp held a Youth Talk roundtable forum for international organization interns, hosted by Associate Professor Zhang Huafeng. The forum invited Ye Jian, an intern at the Secretariat of the UN Headquarters in New York; Li Cuilin, an intern in the Human Resources Department of The Nature Conservancy and at the UN World Food Programme (WFP) office in South Africa; Yang Gefu, an intern at the International Trade Centre (ITC) Representative Office at the UN Headquarters; and Ma Mengling, an intern at the ITU-T sector of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Headquarters, to share their internship experiences in international organizations.
Ye Jian shared his experience as an international organization intern under the theme Adapting to the World is Not as Good as Transforming It – Experiences and Reflections on Government-Sponsored Internship at the UN Headquarters, detailing how to apply for internships in international organizations through their websites. Li Cuilin, under the title The Nature Conservancy and WFP: A Comparison of Internship Experiences, talked about her life and experiences as an international student, as well as how to secure internship opportunities. Yang Gefu reflected on internationalization under the theme Exploration and Reflection on Chinese Youth Going Global. Ma Mengling, centering on Three Choices Geneva Taught Me, shared her study life in Geneva and the wisdom of maintaining balance.
Finally, students actively asked questions based on the interns’ sharing and their own professional interests. The three young interns answered questions in detail with their personal experiences, including topics such as foreigners’ active acceptance of Chinese culture and whether language scores and undergraduate institutions have an impact, and provided practical suggestions.
