Forty-eight students at the Clinton School of Public Service are preparing to launch their International Public Service Projects (IPSP) this summer as part of the nation’s first Master of Public Service degree program.
This year’s cohort will serve in 22 countries, including Botswana, Cambodia, Canada, Costa Rica, Estonia, France, Germany, Ireland, Kenya, Kosovo, Mexico, Peru, Rwanda, South Africa, Spain, the United Kingdom, and more.
Since the inaugural class embarked on international projects in the summer of 2006, Clinton School students have now served in 100 countries around the world. This year marks the first time students will complete projects in Spain, Estonia, and The Bahamas.
This summer’s projects were made possible in part by new funding from the Carnegie Corporation of New York. This generous support provides $5,000 stipends for students completing 8–12 week international projects, with each contributing 240 hours of hands-on leadership and public service.
In Cambodia, Ali Dunbar will work with iDE to explore rural sanitation through stakeholder engagement and program evaluation. In The Gambia, Davis Bunn will expand literacy access through mobile and classroom libraries by conducting a needs assessment and identifying funding prospects.
Larissa-Bronte Agbhor-Nkongho’s work in Kenya will develop a process evaluation and theory of change for a youth innovation hub, helping to ensure its sustainability. Josie Tilley will assess impact and community outreach strategies for GrowHQ in Ireland, developing a blueprint to measure food empathy and long-term community impact.
“Students begin exploring potential IPSPs during the first semester,” said Tiffany Jacob, Director of International Programs. “We encourage everyone to identify their career goals and seek projects that will allow them to build the skills and experience needed to advance. We have an incredible range of interests and talents this year. It’s exciting to see the students implementing projects and actively working towards their professional and academic goals.”
Across all projects, students will apply lessons learned from their first year in the MPS program to contribute meaningful deliverables for their partner organization, including needs assessments, best practice research, program evaluations, strategic communication plans, stakeholder engagement strategies, and curriculum development.
The IPSP is the second of three major field service projects completed by Clinton School students.
Designed to bridge classroom learning with real-world application, the IPSP offers practical, hands-on experience with international or globally focused organizations.
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