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Internship Experience - ICWA



Indian Council of World Affairs is an organization where research is given most priority. As an extension of Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the officials of the organization are senior bureaucrats and retired ambassadors. Here, the importance is given to creative research where a researcher is given the utmost freedom to pursue the topic and area for undertaking research that interests them.

When I joined as an intern, I was welcomed with friendly smiles and warmth. I met the Deputy Director General (DDG), Shri. Ajaneesh Kumar (IFS), who is the reporting person. On the day of joining, he gave me an assignment of submitting a research paper by the end of the internship period. Even though, he gave me very little time to submit my research proposal, he gave me a general idea of his expectations from me. As I discussed my idea with him, he approved my topic and gave me useful pointers that help shape my research paper.

The very next day, he assigned a research guide who would guide me through my research. Since my topic was largely based on the US economic policy, I was assigned to Dr. Stuti Banerjee, an expert in the US foreign policy. As I discuss my topic with my guide, she helped me frame my paper and structure it ensuring clarity in the minds of the researcher as well as the reader.  From the day my topic was approved, I started working on my paper and was done by the first week of May. Despite her busy schedule, my guide spared me so much time that she read through my complete paper four times, each time editing it.

At ICWA, the research faculty is very helpful. Interactions with them help me realize the nuances of the happenings around the world. My discussions with DDG was very helpful gave me some interesting aspects to my topic. The research faculty at ICWA is very friendly. I can approach them anytime and clarify my doubts. They guide me through the research process and help me frame my arguments. Here, I learnt how research is done extensively, how arguments are framed, how different types of research are undertaken such as a view point research paper or an issue brief or a policy paper. With Director of Research, Dr. Nivedita Ray, interaction was such that she will give me a sense of direction to my research. She helped me understand the structure and the composition of my research paper.

They have their very own library with a collection of government records, archives of the old newspapers, data of the international organization and several books that help me through our research. I was invited to attend all the seminars and encouraged to ask questions, if any. So far I have attended a talk on “the rise of China in international monetary system” by Shri. V Shrinivas, IAS and a lecture by H.E. Mr. Ivica Dacic, on “Serbia in the region, Europe and the world”.

On the whole, this experience has been enriching, insightful and fruitful. I still have another 17 days left. I am excited to make the best use of this place by gathering materials for my dissertation and for any such research undertaken anytime later. 
- Poornima Vijay
  2 MAIS
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