The CALS Global Fellows Program supports CALS undergraduate students from any major in pursuit of challenging, professionally-focused summer internships and research placements that enhance and complement their career goals and academic progress while enriching their undergraduate experience with diverse cultural and international immersion. Through key partnerships, the Global Fellows Program provides a platform for students to make positive and definable contributions to global organizations and communities.

Acceptance to the program is competitive and a limited number of students are selected each year. Selected Fellows receive a stipend to offset major expenses.

Students who are accepted into the CALS Global Fellows Program will be required to complete 4 parts of the program:

• An in-person 7-week, Spring (session 2) pre-engagement 1 credit course focusing on health and safety, cultural awareness, logistics and more. 
• a continuous 7–8-week internship or research placement in an international setting
• and a 7-week, 1 credit post-engagement course in the first half of the Fall 2025 semester (ALS/GDEV 3105)
• Poster Symposium in Fall 2025

Information Session:

Tuesday, October 29th at 7pm via Zoom
Register here:  https://cornell.joinhandshake.com/events/1636747/share_preview 

Placement Opportunities:

Placements: 3 total spots available (in-person in Colombia) 

CALS in partnership with Intern Colombia, will support Fellows to finalize their placement in an organization or company based on their skills and interests.

Placement opportunities focus on community development, conflict resolution, education, environmental sustainability, healthcare, human rights, international trade & development, peace, security & post-conflict reconstruction, peacebuilding, poverty eradication, and women’s rights, among others.
 

The placement process includes a one-to-one advising session with Intern Colombia, interview preparation, and interview(s) with prospective Host Organizations. It is important that students are clear about their expectations, and personal & professional goals and contribute collaboratively throughout the internship placement process.
 

Suggested majors and/or professional interests: Communications, Development Studies, Education, Environment and Sustainability, Global Development, Global & Public Health Sciences, International Trade & Development, Landscape Architecture, Water Resources, interest in the non-profit sector and/or Equivalent.
About Colombia

About Colombia:

Over the last two decades, Colombia has re-branded itself and is a nation reborn now firmly on the path to peace and prosperity. Come and visit Colombia and get to know this wonderful country firsthand - a nation warmly welcoming visitors and open for business.

Colombia represents a fantastic opportunity to gain experience in an emerging economy through our exclusive internship programs.

When you come to Colombia you will discover a completely new world. It is the land of magical realism, where everything is possible. Colombia’s economy is flourishing, it's the rising star of Latin America and is now one of the world's most exciting destinations.

Colombia is the second most bio-diverse country on the planet. From the snow-capped mountains of Tolima, the seven types of blue of the Caribbean Sea, the sweltering heat of the colonial city of Cartagena, to the breath-taking beaches on both the Pacific & Caribbean coast (over 300 in total), stunning wildlife, dazzling plants, exotic fruits, beautiful villages, castles, colonial squares, or one of Colombia’s 19 Natural National Parks.

Colombia is a tropical country with modern cities, farmlands, colonial beauty, incredible diversity and charm, and a history loaded with mystery and adventure, its people and cultures have fascinated the world for centuries.

Colombia’s economy has grown steadily over the past decade and is now one of the fastest growing economy in Latin America. In 2020, Colombia became the 37th member of the OECD (a select group of developed world economies that promote an effective policy model to maximise economic growth.)

More information:

We encourage you to apply to your first choice program only. There is a space within the application to indicate if you have a second choice. If you are interested in two opportunities that are very different from one another and would prefer to write two statements of purpose, you may upload both to the same application in ONE document. Make sure they are clearly titled with the correct placement opportunity IF you are writing two statements. For reference, you can review examples of statements from past participants.   

You may preview the application without starting an application by clicking on the “preview application” button next to the apply button. All applications contain the same questions and all information related to the program can be found within the experience page. There is no additional information within the application.