Internships and Directed Research

As described on the semester curriculum page, fall and spring students are given training in field study methods during the 11-week coursework period that precedes the 4-week internship/directed research period.   Beginning with the Internship/Directed Research Form that students complete as part of their application, students progressively hone their research interests in the Research Methods class, which culminates in a final, formal research proposal that consitutes the bulk of their grade for this class. During this period, students are also paired with Faculty Guides whose areas of specialization match their research interests.   

Summer students begin their internships within the first two weeks of the program, as the compressed nature of the summer program does not allow for field methods training.  Directed research is not an option for summer students.  Please visit the summer program and summer curriculum pages for more information.

For internships, the Alliance arranges student placements within Pune's most forward-thinking and well-respected NGOs, as well as multi-national businesses, IT companies, research institutes and think tanks. A menu of sample internship placements is listed below.  All internships are subject to acceptance and availability on the part of the host organization.

Students who choose to pursue directed research work directly with their Faculty Guide and the Research Methods faculty to execute their formal research proposal.  Students in the arts, for example, may be paired with accomplished performers and artists, and students with interests in photojournalism or documentary film-making may be placed with faculty at the Film and Television Institute of India or the National Film Archives of India. All directed research projects are subject to the interest and availability of faculty, and we may require prior relevant coursework in South Asian Studies to approve a directed research topic. Please note that the directed research option is not available for summer students.

Both internships and directed research projects are conducted under close academic supervision and require a faculty-approved reading list, weekly meetings and journal entries, and final paper or project with an accompanying presentation.

Menu of Sample Internship Placements

Please bear in mind that this list is not exhaustive, but is meant to be representative of possible options and successful past placements.  Depending on the needs and priorities of the organization, not every placement will be available each term.  Our network of internship possibilities is constantly evolving, and we are always open to pursuing new areas based on student interests.

Non-governmental organizations
 

• Children’s Future India (CFI) - local NGO focused on community development and humanitarian efforts as they pertain to the well-being of children. 

Placements have involved teaching English to children in a slum while studying the methodology of English language teaching for underprivileged children; working with wives of alcoholics through self-help groups and learning about the overall issue of alcoholism in the slums, how the groups are formed and conducted, and as permissible, interviewing the participating women for a presentation that can be used to instruct or inspire other organizations.

• Deep Griha Society - independent charitable organization working to better the lives of people in the slums of Pune through a range of family welfare programs in education, health, awareness building and self-help projects. 

Placements have involved work in Public Health, specifically providing clinical assistance (ex. general patient intake - taking blood pressure, taking blood, heights, and weights) and working with a group of doctors and social workers to study the issues related to HIV/AIDS for local people and their families.  Sample student research stemming from affilation with this organization: "HIV/AIDS Awareness, Education, Stigma Reduction and Treatment by Deep Griha Integrated Services for HIV and AIDS (DISHA)".

• GMSS/Chaitanya - women’s microfinance organization.

Placements have involved producing an annual report through videography -  conceptualizing, scripting, and recording the various activities of their NGO.   Student research projects conducted here include: "Micro-credit and Financial Literacy Training : My Research with Chaitanya - An NGO".

• Annaparna Parivar - women’s microfinance organization.

Placements have involved studying a health insurance scheme for women through micro-financing and how the members of the women's self-help groups make collective decisions in a co-operative and democratic manner

• Parisar - NGO working on environmental issues in an urban context.

Placements have involved  working on a project involving awareness-raising and promotion of bicycling in Pune schools, collecting data to study the present situation and analyzing contributing factors. 

• Akansha - NGO involved in promoting educational activities for the underprivileged.

Placements have involved working on the “Teach India” project, which teaches English and vocational skills to underprivileged youth.  Student research projects conducted here include: "After School Programs for Slum Children : A Case study of Akansha".

• Gomukh Centre for Rural Sustainability

Student research projects conducted here include: "Integrated Water Resources Management in the Wainganga Sub-basin : Bidding for a Master Plan";  "A Case Study of Natural Farming in India : the Initiative by Gomukh – an NGO"; "The Issue of Ground Water in India : A Case Study of NGO(s) Working in the Field".

• Vaidic Sanshodhan Sastha - NGO working on environmental issues

Sample student research stemming from affilation with this organization: "Religion in the Indian Forests : A Study of Rituals Promoting Environment Conservation"

• Sure Start Project by PATH

Sample student research stemming from affilation with this organization: "Defining and structuring health education in India: A case study"

• Vanchit Vikas, Pune - NGO working with underprivileged communities

Student research projects conducted here include:  "A Study of Sex Workers, Health Facilities Available & Awareness in Pune"

• Prashanti – NGO for preventive and cancer care

Sample student research stemming from affilation with this organization:  "An Analysis of Young Women’s Access to and Experience of Female Health Services in Pune, India"

IT Companies

•  Max Secure Software

Placements have involved working in cryptography. 

Cultural Organizations

Placements under development

Business

• Forbes Marshal - Dept. of Corporate and Social Responsibility.

Placements have involved working with the Akansha Foundation teaching English & vocational skills, as well as assignments including (a) analysis of the stakeholder consultation sheet for self-help group members and preparing a report on this by using developed measures of assessment, (b) consulting NGO partners on this process, and (c) organizing and analyzing information by creating a format for presenting yearly plans, monitoring tools, as well as standards for different levels/type of partnerships with NGOs.

Media and Advertising

•  Aalochana - women's documentation research center.

Placements have involved reviewing documentaries related to women's issues.  Sample student research stemming from affilation with this organization: "The Prevalence and Impact of Physical and Psychological Gender Violence against Young Indian Women in Urban Centres: A Case Study in Pune City, Maharashtra"

•  DNA Newspaper

Student research projects conducted here include: "Developing a news package in print journalism by working with a media house in Pune : An internship with DNA newspaper."

Sample Directed Research Projects

"De Juro V. De Facto in Feminist Jurisprudence: A Case Study of the Protection of Women Against Domestic Violence Act of India, 2005"

"The Impact of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) on Project-Affected People : A Critical Study of a Project by the Corporate House in Pune District"

"A Glimpse at Women’s Healthcare Choices in India through Decision-Making Models"

"India’s Lack of Identity and its Effects on Religious Accord : A Study of Activism at the Local Level"

"Constructions of Femininity and Nationhood in Popular Hindi Cinema : From Mirch Masala to Pardes"

"To Invest or Not to Invest: The Myanmar Question"