Global Internship Base 2012

About GIB

In 2010, Beijing Normal University (BNU) launched the Global Internship Base (GIB), an annual summer program offering international students unique opportunities of conducting development-related academic research or practical work. The program is operated by the School of Social Development and Public Policy (SSDPP), a top policy school in China with strong teaching and research capacity in the field of social policy and social development. Through years of working with diverse research partners, SSDPP has maintained an extensive network in China's development field, which has been a great learning asset for the students of SSDPP. Through GIB, SSDPP would like to extend the resource network to international students who are interested in international development and the Chinese experience. It is our hope that GIB will help deepen the understanding of China's development by international students through research, practice and exchange with experts and other students in the field.

Who is GIB for?

• Students wishing to have a more solid understanding of China or having research interests in contemporary development of China.
• Students considering further education on development-related or China-related topics. 
• Students wishing to enhance their resume or employment prospects in development field by gaining international research experience. 
Program Benefits
• Spend the summer in a country of distinct history, culture, values and development experience.
• Acquire hands-on evidence-based research experience in rural communities.
• Gain real insight into how China's grassroots civil society evolves.  
• Establish friendship within a network of talented and motivated young people from diverse backgrounds and cultures. 
• Experience the life in rural China and improve your Chinese!

The 2012 Program

The four-week program in 2012 is a combination of classroom learning and field research. The objective is to gather international and Chinese students to conduct group research and share learning experience. It starts with a week-long curriculum including 14 hours of coursework on the various fields of social development of China and four field visits to social service agencies in Beijing and Gansu Province. After hearing lectures and completing required readings on the current academic and policy debates, students are expected to design a research plan under the direction of academic advisors to study a development topic through field research in rural communities of China.

Field research is coordinated by SSDPP and its local partner, Tianshui Normal College (TNC). About 20 TNC students will join the international group to do joint community research projects. The entire student body will break into 3-5 teams and each team will conduct research in a rural community in Tianshui for about two weeks. At the end of field research, each team is required to draft a research report, present it to other teams, and discuss with program participants and professors. Each team will be assigned an academic advisor from SSDPP or TNC to advise on field research and report writing.
 

Program Schedule*

Module I: Orientation, Courses, and Field Visits
Location: Beijing and Gansu Province

Monday, July 2, Beijing
 Orientation and program overview (8-10 am);
 Lecture: Chinese Society in Transition (10 am-12 pm);
 Field visit: social services agency (afternoon)

Tuesday, July 3, Beijing
 Lecture: Chinese Economic Reforms (9-11 am)
 Field visit: National Museum (afternoon)

Wednesday, July 4, Beijing
 Lecture: Contemporary Political Development of China (9-11 am)
 Field visit: social services agency (afternoon)

Thursday, July 5, Beijing
 Lecture: China's Education Policy and Reforms (9-11 am)
 Depart for Gansu Province

Friday, July 6, Gansu
 Arrive in Gansu and stay at Tianshui Normal College
 Meet local students and break into teams (International and local students will be together for all activities in Gansu)
 Lecture: Briefing on Gansu's rural communities and social services

Saturday, July 7, Gansu
 Lecture: From Countryside to Cities: Migration in China (9-11 am)
 Lecture: China's Rural Development and Poverty Reduction (1-3 pm)
 Field visit: social service agency (3-6 pm)

Sunday, July 8, Gansu

 Initial visit to research sites
 Briefing on community background

Monday, July 9, Gansu
 Research proposal discussion and writing

Module II: Field Research 
Location: Gansu Province

July 10-22
 Field research
 Draft research reports

July 23-24
 Group presentations and discussion

July 25
 Return to Beijing

Module III: Conclusion
Location: Beijing

July 26-27
 Wrap-up  and Program evaluation
 Departure

*Note: Program dates and lecture topics may be subject to change and, in such a situation, would be updated online and informed to prospective applicants as soon as possible.

Eligibility

10-15 international students are to be accepted in the 2012 program. Applicants must be non-Chinese citizens currently registered in or affiliated with a foreign or Chinese university, preferably in a development-related major and with good command of English. Both undergraduate and graduate students are welcome to apply.

Language

Applicants are expected to be fluent in English and have conversational Chinese skills. While doing research, GIB students will mingle with bilingual Chinese college students who will help facilitate communications with local residents.

Fees

•Application fee (non-refundable): RMB 350 (pay online)
•Program fee: RMB 8,000 (pay upon arrival)

Program fee covers the costs of lectures, domestic transportation between Beijing and the field (train and bus tickets), lodging both in Beijing and Gansu during the program period, and program coordination. Other expenses such as international travel, meals, visa, etc. are not included in the program fee.

Accommodation

Both in Beijing and Gansu, students will stay in on-campus dorms (twin rooms). For BNU's dorms, students need to make reservations when applying for the program.

How to Apply

Applicants should apply online and follow the instructions at

Documents to be uploaded to the online application system include:

1. Application form
2. Resume
3. Copy of the photo page of your valid personal passport

Contact Information

For queries regarding the GIB program, please contact our international programs coordinator Ms. Yang via yangtingting@bnu.edu.cn or 86-10-5880 1861.