My experience at the Center has been memorable. During my almost two months there, I sharpened my research and writing skills. Also, it was the first time when I had to simultaneously use English and Ukrainian in a professional setting since my gradual acquisition of English during high school and college in the U.S.   

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I chose this internship opportunity for its flexibility and availability to attend expert events and discussions. The timing of the internship could not have been more perfect, as during Spring 2016 I explored the research methods when enrolled in International Studies Perspectives course and was looking to apply my skills in real-world environment.

 

In addition, I wanted to challenge myself and take a leap into new areas of research. The project "Mapping of the Needs of Political Education in Ukraine" focused on how best to foster political action and civic participation in Ukraine. The political discourse of Ukraine since the Ukrainian Revolution loomed large in my mind, and I was happy to be involved in the research of democracy education to encourage a politically active generation of Ukrainians who will positively influence democratic reforms and development of Ukraine.  

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During an internship, I encountered an unexpected obstacle of finding a relevant information when searching through Ukrainian academic

scholarship, government websites, political parties, and non-governmental organizations. Fortunately, I was guided and trained by the ICPS to hone my writing and analytical skills in Ukrainian language. My duties included researching background information about the condition of political education in Ukraine and its prospects for development. By the end of the internship, I submitted a paper summarizing my findings and received a certificate of completion from the Center. They awarded it in English and Ukrainian, as I was coming from a foreign university.   

Finally, I had an opportunity to visit two events conducted by the ICPS, which provided me with insights into press briefings and expert discussions on various topics like the War in Donbass, and the analysis of the Ukrainian government policy.        

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