Central College Abroad - leiden, China

Internships offer a fantastic opportunity for students to get hands-on experience in a field related to their major or academic interest in a local environment. These work experiences are invaluable assets to your resume and future job options, and also give you the chance to work alongside members of the Dutch community for a glimpse into another side of the culture. All internships are unpaid and for academic credit.

Internship areas include:

• Art/art history
• Business management
• Communication studies
• Developmental psychology
• Education
• Environmental studies
• Graphic design
• History
• Marketing
• Political science
• Psychology/sociology
• Public relations
• TEFL
• Theatre

Past internship placements include:

• Frans Halsmuseum
  This museum in the city of Haarlem, a 20-minute train ride away from Leiden, is famous for its collection of Frans Hals paintings. In fact, it houses several municipal collections, ranging from everyday objects to 'high' art, dating from the middle ages to the present. The intern will put together an English-language theme tour through the museum and/or city, the actual exhibit being the illustration material. A major in art history or history is required.
• Leiden American Pilgrim Museum
  This very small museum aims to keep alive the memory of the Pilgrim Fathers, Puritan Calvinists who fled England and lived in Leiden (1606-1620), before coming to America. The museum is housed in one of the oldest existent dwellings (ca. 1420) of Leiden and furnished with objects from the time of the pilgrims. Illustrations and documents complete the collection to give an idea how these people lived. Interns will assist the museum director with research and documentation. A major in history or art history is required.
• Library of the Institute for East European Law and Russian Studies
  The library is part of Leiden University and has a very large collection of legal, political and economic books, papers and journals on countries of the former Eastern Bloc. The candidate will be assigned a project and assist with typical librarian jobs.
• MSP Associates
  Management consultants for marketing and sales productivity. Internship opportunities for marketing and communications majors. This is located in Amsterdam. Experience with computer systems is required.
• Museum Het Rembrandthuis
  The museum is located at the actual spot where Rembrandt lived and worked in Amsterdam. Next to keeping the artist's house open to the public, the museum is specialized in his prints and subjects related to them. By assisting in a variety of ways, interns get an insight of how a modest-sized, but internationally renowned, museum is run and functions. A major in art history or history is advantageous.
• The American School of the Hague
  This is an international K-12 school, run on American educational principles and curriculums but with an international student body. All instruction is in English. Interns will have the opportunity to work as teachers' aides, and may, depending on the student's background and experience, have the opportunity to design and teach their own lessons and tutor ESL students. It is located 10 minutes from Leiden by bus. Education major required.
• Waterstone's Bookshop
  Waterstone's is a major English bookshop in Holland. It supplies lovers of the English language all over Holland with reading material of all sorts. It has 40,000 English and American titles to choose from, fiction and non-fiction. It also stocks an extensive range of English and American newspapers and magazines, as well as videos and audio cassettes. The bookshop regularly organizes author visits, English teaching seminars and customer competitions. Interns are required to speak basic Dutch because, among a variety of other things, they are expected to help clients.
• Willem van den Bergh Foundation
  An internship at the Care of the Mentally Handicapped requires a major in psychology or sociology. This internship may consist of research work, as well as practical hands-on work. Previous experience in this field is advantageous.

Service-learning connects meaningful service opportunities in the community with academic learning, personal growth and civic responsibility. It gives students a chance to make a difference in their host city while exploring another aspect of contemporary Dutch culture. A big part of the academic-based service-learning option is journaling and reflecting on your experiences. Most service-learning opportunities carry up to two semester hours of credit.

Service-learning opportunities include:

• Animal rescue organization
• Environmental non-profit
• Refugee organization
• Social service organizations
• Soup kitchen
• Tutoring English
• Youth recreational programs

To apply, you must first create an online account and submit a complete online application for the Leiden, the Netherlands program. Detailed internship and service-learning guidelines including deadlines and application requirements and materials will be provided in your online account.

Additional areas may be available for service-learning or internships. The resident director in Leiden works individually with you to find the best possible option.

Please feel free to contact the Central College Abroad office with questions about internships and/or service-learning.