Prudential Foundation Global Citizens
Global Citizenship, an Important 21st Century Skill
In today’s 21st century economy it is increasingly important for students entering the business world to have a global understanding and recognize the ever-changing role government plays in affecting business decisions. The Prudential Foundation Global Citizens Program provides undergraduate and graduate students from select countries the opportunity to spend a semester in Washington, D.C. in an experiential learning program that exposes them to the role the United States government plays in the context of an increasingly interdependent world. Students in the program return to their communities equipped with the skills and motivation to make real impacts as civically engaged, social aware citizens.
Between 2013 and 2015, the Prudential Foundation Global Citizens Program will enable 120 students from universities in six selected countries to spend a semester together in Washington, D.C., acquiring the skills and understanding needed to become responsible global citizens. These students will join a cohort of 400-450 students from across the United States and around the world for a 15-week semester with TWC. They will live together in shared apartments and have an opportunity to learn from their internships and academic components, and from each other.
A total of 40 students, 20 for the spring semester and 20 for the fall semester, will be selected each year from universities in the following countries:
- Brazil
- China
- India
- Japan
- South Korea
- Taiwan
Students who participate gain exposure to the financial role of the private, government, and nonprofit sectors in our nation’s capital. The program combines four days of work at an internship, full day program activities, an academic course, a civic engagement/social responsibility project, and reflection assignments. This structure enriches students’ academic knowledge while they gain valuable professional, cultural, and social experiences.
Created in Partnership with the Prudential Foundation
In 2009, as one of Prudential Foundation’s inaugural international grants, the Prudential Foundation Global Citizens Program at The Washington Center was established. This partnership has provided an opportunity for Prudential to expand goals of the foundation’s education grant-making to countries in Asia where the company operates. The program has enrolled college students from India, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan to have the opportunity to spend a semester in Washington, D.C., in an experiential learning program designed by TWC. The Prudential Foundation Global Citizens Program has sponsored 75 students during the three spring semesters, 2010, 2011, and 2012.
Thanks to a generously increased commitment by the Prudential Foundation, the program has been expanded to sponsor 120 students from six selected countries between 2013 and 2015. By 2015, 195 students will have participated in the program.
During the program, students will have an opportunity to visit Prudential’s Washington, D.C. office and its headquarters in Newark, New Jersey to learn about Prudential’s corporate values.
The Internship Experience
In light of the current economic climate and the increased governmental regulation of the United States economy, this program exposes students to the financial role of the private, nonprofit, and government sectors in the U.S. capital. Students in this program will return to their countries equipped with the skills and motivation to make a real impact as civically engaged, socially aware, business conscious citizens.
Through the Prudential Foundation Global Citizens Program, students will:
- Gain an in-depth understanding of the financial roles of the government, private, and nonprofit sectors in the United States and how U.S. public policy affects business decision-making in the context of a global economy.
- Develop critical skills, including cross-cultural understanding, communication, and leadership skills to prepare them to succeed in an increasingly global 21st century workforce.
- Learn the importance of civic engagement and be prepared to make lasting impacts in their communities as young leaders.
- Develop their own networks of professional contacts and mentors who will continue to serve as a resource for personal and professional development after they return home.
From Tuesday through Friday students go to their internship sites, where they gain work experience and acquire skills, abilities and attitudes that will benefit them in their future careers.
Students in the Prudential program attend a class one night of the week. Beyond regular courses, Mondays are dedicated to lectures, workshops, or other activities where they meet with distinguished leaders and business professionals with diverse professional backgrounds. There they engage in substantive discussions from different topics in business of international relevance. Students will visit organizations that offer unique opportunities to learn from global influencers such as:
- Private Organizations
- Various Embassies
- Think Tanks
- U.S. Government Agencies
Conferences and workshops also play a large role in the academic structure of the program. Throughout the semester students may participate in meetings taking place in Washington, D.C., that may focus on:
- Communication and Negotiation Skills
- Professionalism
- Corporate Social Responsibility
- Entrepreneurship
- Transparency and Accountability
- Free Trade Agreements in Finance and Economics
- Networking
Sample Internship Sites
Each semester there are many different internship sites that are available to qualified students. Some of the organizations where Prudential fellows have interned include:
- AGCO
- Amber Road
- American Councils for International Education
- Bennett Group Financial Services, LLC
- Brookings Institution
- CATO Institute
- Council on Hemispheric Affairs
- Embassy of the Republic of Korea
- FDL Financial Services
- Hudson Institute
- Institute of International Education
- Inter-American Culture and Development Foundation
- InTrust Global Investments
- LTL Strategies
- ManattJones Global Strategies
- Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation
- Office of the Attorney General
- TechAmerica
- U.S. Chamber of Commerce-Business Civic Leadership Center
- U.S. Small Business Administration
- U.S.-Japan Council
- Voice of America
How to Apply
Scholarship Coverage
Students accepted into the Prudential Foundation Global Citizens Program, through a rigorous selection process, will receive a scholarship which covers most expenses including: application fee, program and housing fees, J-1 Visa SEVIS fee, health insurance, and an airfare allowance (Total scholarship value above $13,000 USD).
To Apply
Candidates interested in the Prudential Foundation Global Citizens Program must consult with their campus liaison and fill out the Prudential Foundation Global Citizens Program Application (http://bit.ly/PrudentialApplication [3]) by April 12, 2013.
** Only qualified applicants will be contacted for an initial interview. In order to move forward in the selection process, applicants that successfully pass the initial interview will be asked to complete the comprehensive Washington Center online application that includes the following documents:
- One-page Resume
- Statement of Professional Interest
- 500-word Issues Essay to be used as a writing sample
- Two Letters of Recommendation
- Copy of Official Academic Transcript
- Copy of Official English Competency Test (i.e. TOEFL)
- Copy of Passport
The Fall 2013 Program begins on August 28 and ends on December 14, 2013.
For more information please take a look at our call for applications [4] and informational handout [5]. For questions, please feel free to contact internationalinfo@twc.edu [6].
