Highlights from Day 2 of the 2025 Global Internship Conference
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The second day of the 13th Annual CIEE Global Internship Conference (GIC) continued the momentum in Singapore with powerful conversations on how internships drive innovation, nurture personal growth, and create inclusive pathways to the global workforce. Leaders across education, industry, and government came together to share strategies for preparing the next generation of changemakers.
Morning Plenary: Internships as a Catalyst for Change
The day opened with a dynamic plenary exploring the transformative power of global internships. Panelists shared how international experiences can unlock personal, institutional, and societal change.
Speakers included Bukky Adebowale (Irish Network Against Racism), Jessica Lora (Lockheed Martin), Ketevan Chincharadze (FYI), and Paul Roben (University of California, San Diego), moderated by CIEE’s Stacy Benjamin. Panelists emphasized experiential learning, mentorship, and diversity as drivers of innovation and inclusion.
“It's about the experiential learning, applying the theory learned in courses into action in the real world,” said Bukky Adebowale. “Make an impact, not an impression.”
Paul Roben emphasized the value of global diversity in innovation: “Real solutions and innovations come through diversity on all levels of thought, country, ethnicity. Mentorship is key."
“Putting yourself into an international environment makes you more open-minded,” said Ketevan Chincharadze. “You learn more about yourself and find new sets of skills.”
It's about...applying the theory learned in courses into action in the real world.
– Bukky Adebowale, Irish Network Against Racism
GIC Talks: Bold Ideas Shaping the Future
The afternoon featured GIC Talks: short, thought-provoking presentations from global leaders. Topics included “Exponential Intelligence” by Jeanette Cheah (HEX), apprenticeship degrees by Joe Edelheit Ross (Reach University), and the evolving role of AI in experiential learning by Andy Brown (OpenAI).
Andy Brown of OpenAI noted that students are already leveraging AI for learning, writing, and programming. “We’re now partnering with governments and educational systems to create an AI-ready workforce.”
Jeanette Cheah asked attendees to reframe their thinking: “The future is exponential. Our students are, too.”
The future is exponential. Our students are, too.
– Jeanette Cheah, HEX
CIEE Partnership Awards: Celebrating Global Impact
CIEE honored standout internship hosts, alumni, and college partners for their commitment to innovation, inclusion, and cross-cultural learning. Awardees included The Broadmoor, Peace Boat, and Global Green Connect; alumni Tanya Noel, Jocelyn Cuddy, and Lucas Souza; and partners from the University of Kansas and UCEAP.
Alyssa Graudins of The Broadmoor said, “Our J-1 interns are the life of the program. They teach our team every day.”
Lucas Souza emphasized local impact: “My CIEE experiences taught me to think globally and act locally. The world-changing classrooms, co-working spaces, and the farms – these are the heroes.”
Louise Soerensen of Peace Boat added, “We learn from our interns. They broaden our horizons.”
Our J-1 interns are the life of the program. They teach our team every day.
– Alyssa Graudins, The Broadmoor
Reception at Lau Pa Sat: A Taste of Singapore
Day 2 concluded with a lively evening reception at Lau Pa Sat, one of Singapore’s most iconic hawker centers. Attendees sampled local flavors, connected with peers, and celebrated the global spirit that defines the GIC community.