From Bangkok to Washington to Prague: Students Driving Global Impact

The experiential learning and practicum courses allow students to apply the theories and concepts learned in the classroom to real-world challenges across sectors and regions. From developing advocacy resources to strengthen labor protections for data workers in Kenya and Uganda, to conducting comparative research on authoritarian leadership and democratic resilience, students engage deeply with urgent policy questions. Students are supporting community-based food and farming initiatives in California’s Pajaro Valley, advance digital and AI literacy efforts for women across Africa, nuclear security research on the safe decommissioning of nuclear power plants.in Prague. 

Through these experiences, students pursue practical, evidence-based solutions to complex global and local issues.

International Policy and Development, Public Administration, and International Trade Practicum

Students from our International Policy and Development (IPD), Public Administration (MPA), and International Trade (ITED) programs have the opportunity to participate in meaningful experiences tailored to their professional goals. Students may choose to undertake a work project within an organization where they are employed or interning, collaborate on a client project with a partner organization, or engage in independent academic research that can be published in an academic journal or self- published via Midddlebury’s digital platforms. 

Below is a list of current participants for both programs, along with their organizations and locations:

International Education Management and Joint Public Administration/International Education Management Practicum

The International Education Management (IEM) and joint MPA/ International Education Management practicum aims to give students the opportunity to gain practical experience in program management in international education. Across the world, our IEM students are working  with study abroad programs, colleges and universities, youth exchange programs, and language programs to affect positive exchange in the world of international education. 

Below is a list of current participants for both programs, along with their organizations and locations:

The Professional Service Semester

The Professional Service Semester (PSS) is an experience designed for students in the Environmental Policy and Management and Nonproliferation and Terrorism Studies programs. The PSS experience allows students to apply skills and knowledge gained through their prior coursework in a professional setting. These experiential learning courses serve as stepping stones to their future careers.

Below is a list of current participants for both programs, along with their organizations and locations:

Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages and Teaching Foreign Language Practicum 

Our students in the Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) and Teaching Foreign Language (TFL) program are integrating reflective practice with professional development to prepare for careers in language education. This approach allows them to apply the pedagogical knowledge and skills acquired at the Middlebury Institute in real-world, professional contexts. 

Below is a list of current participants for both programs and their projects:

Nonproliferation and Terrorism Studies Honors Thesis

The Nonproliferation and Terrorism Studies (NPTS) Honors Thesis is an opportunity for students to design and conduct independent research projects, guided by a thesis advisor. Students engaged in this research actively leverage the skills acquired from their coursework to explore topics to address critical issues within the spheres of terrorism, extremism, international security, and nuclear nonproliferation. Each year, a limited number of students are selected to participate. 

Below is a list of current participants and their projects:

Transportation Agency for Monterey County (TAMC) Fellowship

The intersection of language, community, and mobility is becoming increasingly vital, with Spanish playing a key role in promoting equitable access here in Monterey County. The Transportation Agency for Monterey County (TAMC) Fellowship exemplifies this synergy, bringing together Middlebury Institute students, faculty, and nonprofit professionals to advance language inclusion and community engagement. The students worked on the Safer Routes to School Sidewalk Art Project in East Salinas.

The current TAMC Fellows are: 

Translation and Localization Management Practicum

The Translation and Localization Management (TLM) program practicum is designed for students to gain practical experience by  designing and completing their own localization-related research projects, participating in an internship at international companies, or working for a nonprofit organization such as Women in Localization. Some students are also given the opportunity to mentor first-year TILM students. The projects and internships all have a learning component, and students are expected to share their experiences with each other to foster knowledge sharing. The work is typically completed remotely. 

Translation and Interpretation Practica

The following two practicum courses are offered to students in the MA in Translation and Interpretation, MA in Conference Interpretation, and MA in Translation degree programs.

 Students in the Translation Practicum complete a translation project of 5000 words or more, a glossary of their chosen subject matter that encompasses idiomatic expressions and metaphors along with other linguistic nuances. 

The Practicum in Interpretation facilitates the transition from the classroom to a student’s first professional assignment where students complete a required number of hours of simultaneous and consecutive interpretation at Middlebury Institute public events and taped conferences. Students work intensively together in multilingual practice groups where they evaluate their own performances and that of their peers through a supportive professional development environment. 

Translation Practicum