Internships Details

About the Organization

Students in the Visiting Schools Program (VSP) expand the knowledge they have gained in the classroom through investigative fieldwork and team building activities. Since its beginning in the year 2000, the VSP has grown to serve over 3000 students annually from fifty different schools in fifteen different countries. We offer a variety of programs: long term, short-term, leadership, cultural, adventure, English, holiday and subject specific. Students engage in global issues at a local level by participating in activities focused in seven different areas:

Environmental, social and economic sustainability: Educational activities and projects related to agriculture, ecological conservation, energy, urban planning and more

Cross-cultural and interfaith awareness: Activities in arts, crafts, food, hilltribe peoples, history, religion

Outdoor and adventure education: Trekking, mountain biking, rafting and more

Community service: Build long-term service relationships with other organizations, orphanage assistance, community service projects, assist children with AIDS/HIV positive, tree planting

Leadership and teamwork: Participate in 2-5 day programs learning about team process, leadership, values, team culture, power and authority and more

Course fieldwork: Experiential learning at its best. Learn by doing in an environment suited to the program or project.

Specialist subjects: Programs of various length tailored to the learning and subject requirements of the various visiting schools.

The setting of the Prem Center, both the surrounding region and the campus itself, enlivens the hearts, minds and spirits of students through a learning experience beyond the classroom. The Visiting Schools Program exposes participants to global issues at a personal level, broadening perspectives to encourage sustainable living and social responsibility. Students are encouraged to reflect on their experiences and to grow as global citizens through these different experiences. Learn more about the Prem Center and its various VSP programs run amidst the rolling mountains of Chiang Mai province here.

Job Description

Help develop and implement customized experiential education activities and curricula that focus on such diverse topics as: alternative energy, sustainable agriculture and living, cultural activities, teambuilding and more. The internship requires a 6 month minimum commitment** in order to fully grasp the program philosophy and educational methodology before the intern will be able to facilitate and create activities that are appropriate to the unique curriculum. While the specific needs of the program evolve, interns who are creative and energetic with a background in youth education/being a camp counselor are encouraged to apply. Interns will be given an opportunity to share their knowledge and ideas and implement them into the curriculum.

An example of a needed project that an intern could work on at VSP is as follows:

The VSP wants its students to be excited about sustainable energy sources. Thus, an intern could work with VSP staff to identify and implement low energy sustainable technology which will serve a functional use on the school farm and raise awareness and create excitement amongst students for the possible uses of alternative energy. Some additional possible project ideas are: create a bicycle powered juicer to make fruit shakes on the farm; display low cost solar energy by creating a solar water heater using simple technology or recycled materials. An intern could create something using energy generated from students, by using a see-saw etc.

Where possible students would work with the intern to help make the gadgets, but if this is impractical, there would still be value in the intern constructing and then students using and learning about the process and its benefits. The program only has a small budget for projects, but using alternative energy on the farm would enhance the learning opportunities VSP can offer. VSP hopes to continue using the intern’s project / activities once the placement is over.

** For a one term (10-12 weeks) internship focused on building the VSP multi-media and promotional capabilities, see the “Additional Information” tab.**

# of Positions per term

2

Start Dates

Any

Duration of Internship

2 terms

Qualifications

Academic Background

Environmental Sciences, Education, Outdoor Leadership, Sustainable Development, Engineering

Skills/Experience

Well organized and motivated to complete a project with minimum supervision. An ability to work well with students, most of whom are high-school aged. The intern should be willing to involve students and to share technical knowledge with students. Experience working as a camp counselor or youth educator is helpful. Must be enthusiastic about sustainability!

Language Ability

Prem Center is an international school and uses English as its working language.

Other Requirements

Must be able to commit at least 6 months to the internship.

Internship Costs

Total costs vary depending on how long you plan to be abroad, where you will be living, your personal spending habits, and current exchange rates. The following estimates will give you a ballpark figure for this internship. Get help with the math from our handy Cost Calculator.

IE₃ Program Fee

The program fee* for the first term of any internship is $2950 - $3150. You do not pay tuition in addition to the program fee. Visit your University's IE₃ page for details, costs for additional terms, and campus administrative fees.

*The program fee noted above reflects the anticipated fee increase that will go into effect for the Fall 2010 term and will apply to all terms thereafter.

Estimated One-Time Expenses

Expense Type	Price
International Travel	R/T Airplane: $1800 ***Please note that this cost varies widely by provider and when you book your flight***
Visa Fees	$175
Recommended Immunizations	$100-$300. In addition to the recommended routine vaccinations, the following vaccinations are recommended for Thailand: Hepatitis A and B, typhoid, Japanese encephalytis, rabies. Your doctor or health-care provider will determine what you will need, depending on factors such as your health and immunization history, areas of the country you will be visiting, and planned activities. See the Center for Disease Control website for more details.

*See Additional Cost Information below.

Estimated Monthly Expenses

Expense Type	Price/month
Housing	Provided free of charge if you stay on the Prem center Campus
Food	paid for on campus
Local Transportation	personal travel - $30
Recreation	$50-150
Personal Expenses	$20-50

Compensation

Room and board is provided. Room has an estimated value of $150/month and food at $15 per day.

Additional Expense Information

The cost of living in Thailand is low. The cost estimates provided can vary widely depending on the intern's preferences and spending habits. The Prem Center is located 20 miles north of Chiang Mai City. Public transportation to and from the city for personal time outside of work is very inexpensive. If you hire a taxi it is more expensive and prices are often subject to bartering. Thus, a cost conscious person is able to keep personal expenses very low. Similarly, if an intern would like to take advantage of the surrounding areas many outdoor recreation activities and tourism options over teh weekends or after the internship, the cost for those activities varies widely. People at Prem Center can certainly help you find the activities to suit your needs and personal tastes.

Additional Information

Are you interested in the Visiting Schools Program but cannot commit to the two term time commitment? Do you have experience taking and editing short films? If you have your own video camera and would like to gain valuable multi-media experience in a progressive educational setting, this is the internship for you. Contribute to the marketing efforts of the Visiting Schools Program while accompanying their experiential field trips and activities with video camera in hand. As a filmmaker, use your creativity and skills to capture the interactive nature of the programs. Edit the material for use in podcasts, short videos and memorable DVDs for the students to bring with them after the program.

You will be responsible for filming activities, interviewing students and teachers during the trip and editing your material so that it is ready to be used on our website and linked sites. You may spend some time with the Prem Center website team as needed. You will also share your knowledge so that a staff member can continue to do similar work once your internship has finished.

Qualifications: Skill in making simple films, in shooting video footage as well as in editing and publishing blogs and podcasts. Intern should have familiarity with working with children.

Cost: Same as for the Visiting Schools Program Cost except the Visa is $35