Exchange Internship Program 2020 in USA, Stipend Available

Internship Application Instructions

PLEASE READ THIS ENTIRE PAGE CAREFULLY BEFORE SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION

The United States Committee of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (US/ICOMOS) is seeking graduate students and young professionals specialized in historic preservation and heritage conservation to participate in an International Exchange Program (IEP) during the summer of 2020. Participants will be assigned to three-month, practical working internships, under professional supervision, with a public or private nonprofit preservation organization (IEP Hosts). These positions are for interns with a bachelor’s degree at minimum in a preservation or conservation-related field: architecture, conservation, landscape architecture, cultural resource management, interpretation, archaeology, industrial archaeology, history or cultural tourism.

Projects are varied, and correspond to the needs and requirements of IEP Host organizations. The host office defines the project to be completed; an internship is not an independent research opportunity. Applicants may indicate a preference for the type of project they wish to be assigned, but must be willing to accept any position, which may be located anywhere in the world. Assignments are made on the basis of the best match between the proposed project and the individual’s background and skills, and in consideration of the entire pool of applicants.

This program is an excellent opportunity to learn about another country’s cultural heritage system. It is also an opportunity to make personal and professional contacts with new colleagues while living in a foreign country for a summer.

This program is not a study tour or a preservation course; the internships are based on the principle of hands-on experience, learning by doing. Interns are assigned projects that they are expected to execute and complete with the same degree of professionalism and responsibility as project staff. Interns follow the hours of host office staff, which varies between a 35- and 40-hour week, 5 days a week.

Schedule

Internships begin with an orientation in Washington, DC and conclude with a final program and reception in Washington. IEP interns must attend the orientation program and the final program in Washington (a requirement of the granting agencies and funders of the program). Any schedule conflicts must be discussed and resolved in advance.

IEP Interns work a 5-DAY WEEK for the ENTIRE DURATION OF THE INTERNSHIP, with the only exceptions being regularly-scheduled holidays in the host country and religious holidays for the intern.

IEP Interns are required to submit evaluations, reports, social media posts at specified times in order to receive full payment of their stipend.

Expenses

Participants in the US/ICOMOS Summer Intern Program are awarded a stipend for the 12-week period, paid in regular installments by US/ICOMOS. The stipend is intended to cover the cost of room and board for the entire summer. (IEP Hosts are asked to assist interns in finding suitable lodging.) In some cases, IEP Hosts provide free or reduced-cost housing, in which case the stipend may be reduced.

Travel

All work materials are provided by the host office. Participants must pay for travel to and from Washington, DC (for orientation and closing sessions) and to and from the IEP host site. From 2016 – 2019, full travel costs for all interns were covered by US/ICOMOS program funding.

US/ICOMOS does not assume civil or financial responsibility for interns beyond the stipend amount and is not liable for any additional expense. Before leaving their own countries, participants must obtain private health insurance that will cover them during their entire stay. US/ICOMOS provides limited, supplementary insurance. Interns are advised also to obtain an international driver’s license before leaving home.

Eligibility

Graduate students and young professionals (within 1-3 years of university graduation), fluent in English, are eligible to apply. No spouses or families will be accommodated.

The selection process for the US/ICOMOS International Exchange Program is highly competitive; approximately one in fifteen applications is successful.

Apply here: https://usicomos.org/internship/apply/