From Monterey to the World: Students Use Practica to Make Real-World Contributions to their Professional Sectors

These experiential learning and practicum courses empower students to bridge the gap between classroom theory and real-world challenges. By engaging deeply with urgent policy questions, students pursue evidence-based solutions to complex issues across diverse sectors. 

Current projects range from strengthening labor protections for data workers in East Africa and researching democratic resilience to supporting community-based farming in California’s Pajaro Valley, advancing AI literacy for women across Africa, and analyzing nuclear decommissioning strategies in Prague.

International Policy and Development, Global Governance and Policy, and Trade

Students from our Global Governance and Policy and International Policy and Development 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 

The International Education Management (IEM) 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:

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. 

Master of Public Administration Practicum

The online MPA in Sustainability prepares students to lead initiatives for governments, nonprofits, and businesses to advance environmentally sustainable solutions. Students gain knowledge in economic viability, environmental protection, and social equity—the three pillars of sustainability— as well as organizational development and leadership. 

Students complete a 7-week applied project during their final practicum course. The following students are completing practicum projects with these organizations: 

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 are completing a survey as part of the multi-organization Safe Streets Together Monterey County campaign. 

The current TAMC Fellows are: 

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

Project details forthcoming. 

Practicum placements reflect the range of organizations where our graduates make their careers, including nonprofits, consultancies, federal, state, and local governments, the private sector, international organizations, and think tanks.

Practicum planning begins in the first semester, supported by faculty with strong professional networks, guest speakers, alumni mentors, and conference opportunities. We congratulate our students on their hard work securing these positions and completing these robust projects.