InteRDom is a competitive internship, research and study program in the Dominican Republic that promotes professional, academic and cultural exchange between students, universities, professionals, businesses and non-governmental organizations on both national and international scales.
InteRDom serves each of these parties in unique ways. For individual students, InteRDom coordinates customized internship, study and research experiences of 10 – 48 weeks in duration, according to the study areas and career development interests of the student. Students may also participate in any number of the specialized short programs based on important topics in the Dominican Republic and the Caribbean as a whole that InteRDom will launch in 2012.
InteRDom also works with universities and professors to develop short- and long-term faculty-led courses and field trips with highly-specialized content.
Finally, InteRDom serves professionals and organizations of the public, private and nonprofit sectors through the Internship Certification Seminar, a workshop given three times a year which instructs participants in the best practices to implement and/or improve effective and beneficial internship departments in their respective organizations.
InteRDom is constantly growing, expanding and evolving its programs and services, and innovative individual and group programs are implemented year-round.
Programs
InteRDom offers a wide variety of programs for individual undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and gap-year students and researchers that feature any combination of the following components: professional internship experience with a private, public or nongovernmental institution, coursework at InteRDom’s partner university, the Universidad Iberoamericana (UNIBE), networking and research planning and support, and cultural activities and excursions.
Students who choose to enroll at UNIBE may take specialized courses and seminars on Culture and Spanish as a Foreign Language during the Caribbean Summer program, and may enroll in UNIBE’s regular course offering with Dominican students during the Fall, Spring and Summer semesters.
At InteRDom, we are committed to research and personal and professional development, and we facilitate the advancement of students’ personal academic research by coordinating sessions throughout the term with an assigned advisor who provides both professional and academic support.
Below are the programs to which individual students may apply to participate.
Coming Soon! Short programs for individuals on specialized topics relating to important Dominican and Caribbean themes.
Programs are designed for students 19 years of age or older, who have completed at least half of their undergraduate studies and who possess basic/measurable competencies in the Spanish language. All applicants must submit to a background check and should be fully prepared and able to participate in a rigorous learning experience!
Note: Different programs and internship sites may require higher levels of Spanish proficiency.
How to Apply
InteRDom recommends that you begin the application process 4-6 months before the start date of the program to which you are applying. If you are applying for outside scholarship and/or fundraising in your community, you will need to begin the process up to a year before your desired travel date.
Steps to apply:
Click on the “Students” button on the InteRDom homepage and fill out the application form, being sure to attach an updated copy of your resume and a cover letter detailing why you would like to travel to the Dominican Republic, what sort of internship and/or research you would like to conduct and your funding plan for your time overseas. An InteRDom admissions representative will contact you within a week to answer any questions you have about the program and to schedule an initial exploratory telephone interview.
After you begin the interview process with an InteRDom admissions representative, you should begin gathering the documentation listed below (original copies only—no scanned, faxed or copied documents will be accepted) and send it to our administrative offices in New York at:
Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD)
780 Third Avenue, Suite 1903
New York, NY 10017
An InteRDom admissions representative will inform you of your admissions decision within two weeks of receiving the completed application, and will present you with an internship proposal 3-6 weeks later.
Required Documentation:
Copy of Passport
4 passport-style photos
Criminal History Report
Medical History Form (to be distributed upon receipt of online application).
Official Academic Transcript
Recommendation letter from a professor
$150 application fee
Student Life
Housing
Participants in the InteRDom program have the option of residing in the apartment-style student residences located just steps from the InteRDom offices in the La Esperilla section of Santo Domingo. Each apartment is outfitted with wireless internet, basic television, a washing machine and a fully-equipped kitchen. Bedrooms and common areas are comfortable and spacious, and InteRDom provides a weekly cleaning service.
The student residences are centrally-located in downtown Santo Domingo, just blocks from InteRDom’s affiliated university and walking distance from many restaurants, shops, parks and major public transportation routes.
For more information, visit ourPublications page and download the housing brochure.
Cultural Activities
Each semester, InteRDom prepares a series of cultural excursions throughout the country designed to introduce participants to an up-close view of the history, ecology, culture and economy of the island. These gatherings also provide an opportunity for interns to meet and become involved in local communities.
InteRDom also organizes occasional “get-togethers” in the capital to provide students a chance to connect with one another and explore the city.
The excursions and get-togethers listed below are just a sampling of the many different activities that InteRDom promotes, and are subject to change seasonally.
Camping at Rancho Campeche
Hiking at Ebano Verde Ecological Reserve
Tours of the Centro Leon Cultural Center and the Mirabal Sisters Museum
Visit to Altos de Chavon artistic center and the Cave of Wonders
Tour of a cacao plantation and production center
Tour of the historic Santo Domingo Colonial Zone
Movie Night
Trip to the theater
Various educational activities, seminars and conferences at FUNGLODE
Merengue, bachata and salsa dancing classes
Visit to the botanical gardens
Beach clean-up
Medical Insurance
All participants in InteRDom programs are covered by an institutional medical insurance policy that provides at-home medical consultations and emergency medical attention throughout the country. InteRDom also requires that students purchase a traveler’s insurance prior to traveling that will cover airline and travel emergencies and losses, evacuations, etc.
Institutional Information
About GFDD/FUNGLODE
Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD) is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting collaboration between organizations in the United States and the Dominican Republic with an aim to study, research, enhance public understanding, design public policies, devise strategies, offer capacity building, and foster exchange in the areas crucial for the social, economic and democratic development of the Dominican Republic, Caribbean and Latin America.
GFDD accomplishes its goals through research projects, training programs, academic exchange programs, publications, seminars and conferences, as well as joint US-DR task force efforts and development programs. It encourages intellectual and professional development of Dominican professionals, in the country and abroad, while working to offer viable action plans and solutions to domestic problems for the benefit of Dominicans residing in the Dominican Republic, the United States and Latin America.
GFDD is the US sister organization of Fundación Global Democracia y Desarrollo (FUNGLODE), based in the Dominican Republic. FUNGLODE was created by Dr. Leonel Fernández in the year 2000, at the end of his first presidential mandate. Upon resuming his duties as President of the Dominican Republic in August 2004, Dr. Fernandez became the Honorary President of the institution.
FUNGLODE and GFDD were created as a result of President Fernandez’s desire to contribute to the social, economic, and democratic development of his home country and the Region, particularly by promoting international collaboration and exchange in order to advance the level of public debate, inform public opinion, train more qualified human resources, and achieve sounder public policies.
InteRDom was established in 2005 by GFDD and FUNGLODE, and has since become the leading internship, research and academic study program in the Dominican Republic.
The first InteRDom interns traveled to the Dominican Republic during the Summer 2006 term, and in 2008, InteRDom expanded its calendar to offer internships and study opportunities year-round.
Mission
InteRDom fosters and promotes professional, academic, scientific, technological and cultural exchange of students and professionals in public, private and non-profit organizations of the Dominican Republic. It significantly contributes to the development of the nation’s employment sector and the advancement of academic research. InteRDom provides spaces for personal and professional growth, internationalization and multicultural understanding.
Objectives
Organize internship programs that contribute both to the professional development of the intern and the institutional development of the recipient organization
Offer students academic programs that correspond to their interests and permit in-depth understanding of Caribbean reality
Organize meetings between international interns, professionals, professors and Dominican students to facilitate the exchange of knowledge and experience
Provide interns with services that guarantee safe, pleasant and rewarding stays
Positively impact the Dominican labor force by providing competent and enthusiastic interns
Heighten understanding within the Dominican employment sector of the valuable role interns can play in providing new perspectives and increasing productivity levels, through annual conferences, publications and public awareness campaigns
Develop an internship program model that responds to the growing needs of employers in the Dominican Republic
Facilitate development, diversification and the dissemination of research projects and academic publications
Positively contribute to increasing the visibility of the Dominican Republic abroad
InteRDom Alumni Hail From…
Amherst University
Baruch College
Baylor University
Boston College
Boston University
Brandeis University
Brooklyn College
Brown University
City College of New York
Columbia University
Cornell University
Dartmouth College
Florida International University
Fordham University
Georgetown University George Washington University
Harvard University Kennedy School
Ithaca College
Johns Hopkins University
Lafayette University
Long Island University
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Monterey Institute of International Studies
Pace University
Paris II
Queens College
Rutgers University
San José State University
Sciences Po
Seton Hall University
Smith College
Stony Brook University
SUNY Buffalo College
SUNY New Paltz
The New School
Universidad Tecnológica Nacional - Facultad Regional Córdoba
Washington & Lee University
Wesleyan University
Yale University
About the Dominican Republic
There is something for everyone in the Dominican Republic! It is a Caribbean island nation which shares a border with Haiti and is the site of Christopher Columbus’ first landing in the “New World.” From meticulously-preserved historical sites to a fast-paced emerging economy and a new-found stronghold in international relations, students of all fields have something to learn in this racially and culturally diverse and distinct nation.
The nation’s capital, Santo Domingo, is both cosmopolitan and brimming with old-world charm. The city offers a plethora of recreational possibilities: from museums, monuments and parks to shopping districts, restaurants, lounges and dance clubs. Moreover, its Colonial Zone was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1990.
Known for its booming tourism industry, its world-famous baseball players and its rapid economic development, the Dominican Republic is emerging daily in new industries that make it competitive on an international scale. It is quickly establishing itself as a regional leader in cinema and film, as well as environmental initiatives. It is the perfect canvas for students and researchers alike to take part in the development of the country and the region.
