Each year, the United States Committee of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (US/ICOMOS) seeks graduate students and young professionals specialized in historic preservation and heritage conservation to participate in an International Exchange Program (IEP).
Intern participants are selected on a competitive basis for participation in the US/ICOMOS International Exchange Program. Internships are approximately 12 weeks in length (including orientation and the final program) and are usually scheduled during the summer (from June to August). US/ICOMOS hosts all U.S. and international interns for a program orientation at the beginning of the summer that will take place virtually. Interns then travel to their various host locations where they complete a 10-week preservation-related project designed by the host organization. At the end of the summer, all interns gather in Washington, DC, for a final debriefing and farewell program.
Projects are varied, and correspond to the needs and requirements of IEP Host organizations. The host office defines the project to be completed; an internship is not an independent research opportunity. Applicants may indicate a preference for the type of project they wish to be assigned, but must be willing to accept any position, which may be located anywhere in the world. Assignments are made on the basis of the best match between the proposed project and the individual’s background and skills, and in consideration of the entire pool of applicants.
This program is an excellent opportunity to learn about another country’s cultural heritage system. It is also an opportunity to make personal and professional contacts with new colleagues while living in a foreign country for a summer.