Georgetown and Silatech sign MOU for new student internship opportunities

Students attending Education City’s Georgetown University in Qatar (GU-Q) will soon have the opportunity to earn school credit and gain professional experience through a newly launched internship program at Silatech, a Qatar-based NGO that promotes entrepreneurship and job creation for young people throughout the Arab world, with the recent signing of an MOU between the two organizations. 

Georgetown students who are accepted to the internship program will receive training and education, and will be assigned a mentor to oversee assigned duties. This will give the students the opportunity to apply the theories and skills they learned in the classroom and gain professional experience while working to promote Silatech’s research and policy work.  Students who successfully complete their internship will earn one academic credit toward their Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in Qatar degree.

Dr. Gerd Nonneman, the dean of GU-Q, described the agreement with Silatech as a natural collaboration between institutions with a shared mission to promote human development in the region. “Our International Affairs curriculum at GU-Q, which is the same program offered on Georgetown’s main campus in Washington D.C., prepares our students to think critically on the most important social, political and economic issues we face, both regionally, and internationally. Combined with their strong writing and research skills, I have no doubt that these future leaders will contribute to Silatech’s work, while receiving the kind of professional experience that serves as a critical stepping stone for future career possibilities.”

Dr. Tarik Yousef, CEO of Silatech, said: “One of the many benefits Silatech enjoys by being located in Doha is having access to the vibrant intellectual and academic community here. While in the short term, Silatech will benefit from the fresh perspectives brought by Georgetown students, in the long term Qatar itself will benefit through the expansion of local professional capacity in the entrepreneurship and development sectors."

Student applicants must have a minimum GPA of 3.3, with preference given to juniors and seniors, though sophomores may be considered. The internship will require academic work at GU-Q in addition to that done for Silatech. As part of this work, students will complete bi-weekly summaries and reading responses, attend a 1.5 hour biweekly meeting on campus, and develop a final e-portfolio or similar final project, with an emphasis on connecting theory to practice. The initial period of time for the agreement is three years.