Education Program internships offer valuable experience with events and conference planning and coordinating, syllabus and course design, project conception and management, all while enhancing the student experience here at EWC. Students work closely with EWC staff and build camaraderie on teams with fellow students. Direct questions to Steve Bell bells@eastwestcenter.org (Exchange, IGSC), Karima Daoudi daoudik@eastwestcenter.org (Exchange, East-West Fest), or Sophie Sidhu sidhus@eastwestcenter.org  (Community Building Institute, and/or speak with your program coordinator.

Spring 2023 Announcement: While various internship positions are included on this page, only the following internships are currently being recruited, with greatest need for vacant positions in Spring 2023 (marked in bold). The deadline to apply for an internship this cycle is February 8 @ 11:59pm HST and applicant interviews will take place in the week(s) following the application deadline. The next application cycle will be in the Fall semester and an updated version of this matrix will be made available then.

Click Here to Apply

POSITION TITLEFALL 2023SPRING 2024FALL 2024
THE EXCHANGE
Exchange Planning and Speakers Intern
Exchange Performance Internxx
Exchange Activities Internx
Exchange Communications Internxx
Exchange Logistics Internx
Exchange Food Internxx
INTERNATIONAL GRADUATE STUDENT CONFERENCE
IGSC Conference Co-Chair
IGSC Administration Managerx
IGSC Volunteer Coordinatorx
IGSC Communications Managerx
IGSC Logistics Coordinatorx
EAST-WEST FEST
East-West Fest Co-Chair (2 positions)x
COMMUNITY BUILDING INSTITUTE
CBI Planning Intern (April-September 2023)xn/a
CBI Hospitality Intern (April-September 2023)xn/a

Click on any position listed below to read the full internship description


The Community Building Institute (CBI) 🔗

CBI is an integrated program of activities and orientations for new EWC participants which occurs before the start of each academic semester. It is required for all students starting an EWC program.

Through CBI participants gain a greater understanding and awareness of shared communities as these relate to academic study, daily living, and the challenges facing the Asia Pacific region. With participants from the United States, Asia, the Pacific, and beyond, CBI explores the many connections that unite diverse cultures here in Hawaiʻi, at the EWC, and beyond. Participants interact through educational and service activities that are designed to encourage learning about fellow participants, the EWC, and Hawaiʻi. CBI also aims to prepare participants for academic life at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and engagement at the EWC. 

Time frame: CBI Interns support the fall CBI, serving in their roles from April through September. Interns join the CBI Planning Team as core members and contribute to program development and implementation of the two-week fall CBI (held in August). Interns manage various aspects of the experience, including (click on a position title below to read more).

💼 CBI Planning Intern

CBI Planning Interns support CBI functions and contribute to the overall planning and logistics of new student arrivals at the EWC, with a focus on planning and coordinating with the CBI planning team and Housing to (a) develop and communicate arrival information with incoming students before arrival, (b) welcome, orient, and integrate new students into EWC dormitories upon arrival, and (c) develop creative and inclusive CBI program content.

💼 CBI Hospitality Intern

CBI Hospitality Interns support CBI functions and contribute to the overall planning and logistics of new student arrivals at the EWC, with a focus on coordination
(a) of the EWC buddy system for new students,
(b) of community-building events and activities, and (c) with EWCPA to welcome and integrate arriving students into the EWC community.


The Exchange 🔗

The Exchange is a series of evening events, held weekly on Monday evenings during the Fall and Spring semesters, featuring guest presentations, performances, and activities. Sessions explore the pressing issues, histories, challenges, innovations, and vibrant cultures that make the Asia Pacific region unique. Each semester has 8 sessions.

Time frame: Each team of interns for The Exchange commits to two semesters: one semester of planning, and a second of implementing. Interns for The Exchange work together as a team with each intern managing various aspects of the experience, including (click on a position title below to read more):

💼 Planning and Speakers Intern

The Planning and Speakers Intern takes a leadership role in the planning and coordination of the series. The Planning and Speakers Intern drives the overall semester and individual session themes, goals/objectives, dates, speakers, and all substantive areas of production for The Exchange. The Planning and Speakers intern is responsible for identifying and inviting speakers for each session, collecting and editing the speaker’s bios, introducing speakers, and managing the communications with speakers from the point of contact to thank you notes after their engagement.

💼 Performance Intern

The Performance Intern assists the Planning and Speakers Intern in identifying high-quality, engaging guest performers/artists that fit the theme of the series, sending invitations, and liaising with performers throughout the planning and implementation process. The Performance Intern collects and edits performer bios, introduces the performers, and manages performance needs.

💼 Activities Intern

The Activities Intern plans and directs the group activities for each session of the Exchange, recruits, trains, and manages discussion group hosts who help implement weekly activities, and coordinates the evaluation of session activities. The Activities Intern closely coordinates with the planning/speakers and performance interns to ensure activities enhance and complement the overall semester theme as well as the topic of each session. The Activities Intern creates learning plans for each session and coaches group hosts to implement them. Additionally, the Activities Intern creates the groups and manages attendance for the Exchange.

💼 Communications Intern

The Communications Intern creates, produces, and manages all digital materials and interfaces for marketing, promotion, and implementation of The Exchange, including the website, introductory video, semester poster, weekly session flyers, social media posts, posting of sessions on community calendars, evaluations, and related technology (such as Zoom, Canva, Mentimeter, Weebly, Instagram, YouTube, etc.). This position liaises with EWC Communications and External Relations on branding and other institutional guidelines and on program promotion and marketing. The Communications Intern also manages online RSVPs, administers session evaluations, and manages other communication platforms as desired by the team. Additionally, the Communications Intern provides administrative support for the team, including scheduling and hosting team meetings, and preparing a production schedule for each session.

💼 Logistics Intern

The Logistics Intern ensures that all logistical and technological arrangements — including technical, artistic, and space arrangement provisions for presenters, performers, activities, food service needs, etc. — are well-considered, planned, and implemented far in advance of each session of The Exchange. In this role, one liaises with the EWC Imin Center, Education Program, and guest presenters and performers on addressing design, presentation, and support needs for each session. The Logistics Intern puts together a production schedule for each session, outlining timing, necessary logistics, and roles for the team. Additionally, the Logistics Intern provides administrative support for the team, including budgeting, food service support, and other duties necessary for the success of The Exchange.

💼 Food Intern

The Food Intern oversees food preparation and service for The Exchange series. The Food Intern selects menus, arranges for the purchase and preparation of all food items, and manages food preparation groups for each session.


The EWC International Graduate Student Conference (IGSC) 🔗

IGSC is an annual academic conference event bringing together graduate students from Hawai‘i, the US and abroad in an intellectually stimulating environment for discussion on issues relating to the Asia-Pacific, and US Asia-Pacific relations.

Time frame: The IGSC is held in mid-February each year. Conference chairs will be selected 15-18 months in advance so that they can have some overlap with the previous team and can be part of the conference in the previous year (as volunteers). They will shadow the current team and take substantive volunteer roles. All other internships will be selected 10-12 months in advance and students interested in these positions should plan to be active in the previous conference as a presenter or a volunteer. Planning for the conference begins in early-Spring the year before. Decisions about theme, venue, and preparation of the call for abstracts will take place in spring, there will be some inquiry management over the summer months, and then conference planning resumes in September, with abstract review and planning of logistics. The most intense period of activity is December-February. IGSC interns work together as a team with each one managing various aspects of the conference including (click on a position title below to read more):

💼 Co-Chairs (2 positions)

Co-chairs take leadership roles in organizing the conference and managing its implementation. Activities include determining the theme and design for promotional materials, advertising for abstracts and participation, managing the selection process, planning the conference schedule, and coordinating the conference event.

💼 Administration Manager

The Administration Manager is the lead coordinator for the IGSC team. This intern is responsible for managing the email system, distributing conference emails with the team and participants, distributing conference emails with the team and participants, creating and organizing meeting summaries and task lists, coordinating with the Co-Chairs during the abstract reviewing process, and taking the lead on fundraising efforts.

💼 Volunteer Coordinator

The Volunteer Coordinator is the lead manager of the IGSC volunteer team. The Volunteer Coordinator assesses volunteer needs, recruits for volunteer positions, and supervises volunteer tasks.

💼 Communications Manager

The Communications Manager is responsible for putting together the conference program, which includes reading and editing abstracts and slotting them into sessions, working with a designer on conference branding materials, and designing and publishing the IGSC booklet. In addition, the Communication Intern is responsible for promotions and marketing materials (flyers, posters, social media, advertisements, etc.), including those used on virtual sites and promotions. This position involves collecting and managing information about presenters, abstracts, events, donors, and schedules. The position also requires excellent editing skills, with design and publication experience for print and virtual mediums preferred.

💼 Logistics Coordinator

The Logistics Coordinator is responsible for coordinating conference food, as well as location and equipment logistics. The Logistics Coordinator also leads marketing and outreach efforts during the Call-for-Abstracts phase, disseminating the Call-for-Abstracts through various strategies. This intern works closely with the Communications Manager on ISGC marketing. The Logistics Coordinator is also the lead in looking into the logistics for new initiatives the IGSC may be interested in undertaking related to innovations in conference sustainability, health, accessibility, and fundraising, among others.

💼 Technology Manager

The Technology Manager handles the technological and online aspects of the conference. This intern designs and manages the IGSC’s virtual platform and programming on Whova from abstract submission to the promotion and participant registration and all the way through conference implementation and evaluation.


East-West Fest 🔗

East-West Fest is an annual celebration of the dozens of culturally diverse communities that make up the East-West Center ‘ohana and the Honolulu community. This student-led, family-friendly public event is a way for students to share their cultures with one another and with our host community through artistic performances on the main stage, cultural booths, food trucks, and demonstrations. Tentatively set for Sunday, April 9, 2023, this event is planned by students with a collaborative team staff from across the East-West Center—Education Program, Communications and External Relations, Foundation, Facilities, Arts—as well as community partners. 

Time frame: Planning begins in October and runs until April each year. East-West Fest internships include (click on a position title below to read more):

💼 Co-Chairs (2 positions)

Co-Chairs will take leadership roles along with EWC staff to set the vision for and to coordinate the logistics of East-West Fest, including managing volunteers, facilitating live performances by student and community groups, coordinating cultural booths, and more.