Class of 2025 Develops Key Career Skills at Worldwide Work Placements

Real-life work experience is a program highlight for many Munk School master’s students, who each complete placements with government and with globally recognized organizations, usually between Year 1 and Year 2. It’s often their first chance to put classroom instruction into action, as they develop their networks with industry-relevant work contacts. 

The search for work experience placements is a student-led process, supported by a team of devoted Munk School internship coordinators. Students consistently report positive experiences from the process itself, exploring what attributes of policy or global work captivate them the most, many finding roles they might not have otherwise discovered. They consistently report the experience as a key advantage for their future employability as graduates. 

Several students of the class of 2025 shared reflections in their own words*: 

• Yasmine Gill (MPP ‘25, placed at the Maytree Foundation): The Maytree Foundation is a poverty-reduction organization which focuses on adapting policy solutions to create systems-level change. The value of the on-the-job training with them was immense; I collaborated on measures that enacted positive change, and planned projects and fully execute on projects. My internship also gave me the opportunity to develop professional relationships.  

• Steffi Hebel (MPP ‘25, placed at George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies): Global Decision Making and Strategic Implementation of Public Policy were two courses where I observed course material in action throughout my internship. They helped frame my understanding of how and why policies work in some jurisdictions and not in others. The Marshall Center brings together military officers, policy advisors, ambassadors, and government officials together with countries that have shared interests. Also, working on a military base was a unique opportunity. 

• Emmie Lundgren (MGA ‘25, placed with the UNICEF Cambodia country office): The MGA program provides extensive material knowledge, but its true value is in teaching students to think critically about real-world dilemmas and apply their knowledge effectively. My internship with UNICEF Cambodia solidified that approach through the opportunity to apply knowledge from different fields (e.g. innovation, security, development etc.) to real-world situations. One unexpected aspect of my internship was the level of responsibility I received. Coming from an academic background, where tasks are often clearly defined and graded, I was surprised by how much my opinions and thoughts were valued, and the autonomy I was given. Initially, this was daunting, and I had to learn to trust my judgment.  

• Eve Parry (MGA ‘25, placed with International Maritime Organization (IMO)): I am thrilled to have interned at the Executive Office of the Secretary-General, (EOSG) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO).  My work with the EOSG involved stakeholder engagement and event management—experiences that gave me a nuanced understanding of logistical planning and networking. I absorbed the IMO’s ethos of regulatory excellence, benefiting from the mentorship of determined experts and contributing to projects that drove actionable change. I learned how shipping handles 90% of global trade, supported by 1.8 million dedicated individuals who work tirelessly under perilous conditions. I developed a deep appreciation for the 120,000 ships delivering essential consumer goods—such as food, medicine, fuel, raw materials, and electronics—to destinations around the world. This spectacular opportunity unveiled insights and perspectives I had never previously encountered. 

Following graduation, almost half of MGAs find work in the private sector, with the other half of graduates being split between government, NGOs, international think tanks and multilateral organizations. The statistics among MPP students show that 40% find employment positions in policy development, and another 11% in leadership positions, showing that the experience developed during work experience supports not solely a high rate of career success, but positive outcomes that ripple far beyond the students themselves. 

*All responses have been condensed for brevity.