Getting Started
A starting point for students of Southeast Asia who are looking for professional development opportunities, including internships, in Washington D.C. to complement their studies.
- Check out the list of organizations working on Southeast Asia below, all of which do work related to politics, economics, governance, or other developments in Southeast Asia. This list is not comprehensive, but can be a useful starting point for those looking for Southeast Asia-related work experience in the nation’s capital.
- Talk to your professors about your interests and see if they have suggestions on locations which would be a good fit. Things to consider include the (1) language you are studying, (2) your academic interests (politics, security, development, economics); (3) your career interests; (4) your top priorities in selecting an internship: country, type of work (diplomacy, development, journalism, financial analysis, etc.), compensation, or other factors.
- If your university does not have an internship coordinator or other relevant resources to assist with finding opportunities focused on Southeast Asia, you can reach out to William Wise, Chair of the Southeast Asia Forum, at [email protected] for assistance.
Interested in a career involving Southeast Asia?
Consider what boxes you can check below to enhance your competency in Southeast Asia.
- Take courses at your university related to Southeast Asian government, politics, history, international relations, culture, religion, and philosophy
- Focus your academic research papers and projects on Southeast Asia case studies, even when the course covers broad international relations, history, or economic topics
- Regularly track news and events in Southeast Asia from regional newspapers or national newspapers in ASEAN countries
- Attend webinars and public events on Southeast Asia or the Indo-Pacific
- Study abroad and immerse yourself in a Southeast Asian country
- Learn a foreign language spoken in Asia
- Intern at a policy institute or academic institution focused on Southeast Asia in Washington, D.C.
- Join a student organization with ties to Southeast Asia to gain a greater appreciation and understanding of Southeast Asian culture
- Network with professionals in Washington, D.C. who have experience and interest in Southeast Asia
Organizations Working on Southeast Asia in Washington D.C.
Internship opportunities are always in flux, but the organizations below regularly do work on issues in Southeast Asia and are a good starting point for students looking to get relevant experience working on Southeast Asia issues in Washington D.C.
If you’re interested in a summer or virtual internship abroad in Southeast Asia, many of these organizations also regularly host internships at their offices in the ten ASEAN countries. This resource will still be a good starting point in your search.
| Organization | Organization Description | Link |
|---|---|---|
| US – ASEAN Business Council | The US-ASEAN Business Council, a Washington DC-based trade association representing more than 160 US companies, advocates on behalf of these American companies operating in or seeking to enter Southeast Asia markets. The Council has offices in Washington DC, New York, Bangkok, Hanoi, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Manila and Singapore. | https://www.usasean.org/ |
| The Asia Group (TAG) | The Asia Group is a strategy and business advisory group to corporations and organizations with business interests in the trans-Pacific region. TAG helps clients identify, integrate and advance new business opportunities in Asia, and works with existing businesses to navigate the complexities of both established and emerging Asian markets. | www.the-asia-group.com |
| The Asia Foundation | TAF is an NGO working throughout Asia to improve governance, law, and civil society; women’s empowerment; economic reform and development; sustainable development and the environment; and international relations. TAF collaborates with private and public partners to support leadership and institutional development, exchanges, and policy research. The Foundation has offices in all Southeast Asian countries except Brunei as well as offices in Washington D.C., New York, and San Francisco. | https://asiafoundation.org/ |
| The Asia Society | Asia Society is the leading educational organization dedicated to promoting mutual understanding and strengthening partnerships among peoples, leaders, and institutions of Asia and the United States in a global context. The Asia Society has offices in major US cities as well as Australia, Hong Kong, India, Korea, the Philippines, and Switzerland. They offer volunteer internships in New York and with the Asia Society Policy Institute in Washington DC. | https://asiasociety.org/ |
| Asia Group Advisors | Asia Group Advisors is a strategic advisory firm which focuses on market entry, government affairs, and policy in Southeast Asia. They were established in 2013 and have offices in Bangkok, Hanoi, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Singapore, Yangon, and Washington D.C. | https://asiagroupadvisors.com/ |
| Albright – Stonebridge Group | Albright Stonebridge Group is a premier global strategic advisory and commercial diplomacy firm, with experts in more than 40 countries around the world. ASG has experts located on the ground in Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, and Vietnam and a strong presence | https://www.albrightstonebridge.com/ |
| Bower Group Asia (BGA) | Bower Group Asia (BGA) is a strategic advisory firm that specializes in the Asia-Pacific. BGA supports clients to navigate complex and dynamic markets in Asia, providing actionable insights and analysis for markets in Southeast Asia, North Asia, South Asia, and the Pacific. | https://bowergroupasia.com/job-and-internship-opportunities-at-bga/ |
| Brookings Institution | The Brookings Institution is a nonprofit organization devoted to independent research and policy solutions. | https://www.brookings.edu/topic/southeast-asia/ |
| Carnegie Endowment for International Peace | The Carnegie Endowment offers decisionmakers global, independent, and strategic insight and innovative ideas that advance international peace. The Carnegie Asia Program studies disruptive security, governance, and technological risks that threaten peace and growth in the Asia Pacific region. | https://carnegieendowment.org/programs/asia/ |
| Center for Advanced Defense Studies (C4ADS) | C4ADS is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing data-driven analysis and evidence-based reporting on global conflict and transnational security issues. The Organized Crime and Grand Corruption Program seeks to map the networks engaging in illicit activities. Current focus areas include asset flight in Latin America, forced labor in Southeast Asia, and money laundering in Eastern Europe. The Natural Resources Program aims to counter illicit resource extraction. Current projects extend throughout the Americas, Africa, and East and Southeast Asia. | https://c4ads.org |
| Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) | CIPE strengthens democracy around the globe through private enterprise and market-oriented reform. CIPE is one of the four core institutes of the National Endowment for Democracy. In the Asia-Pacific region, CIPE plays the role of a convener of think tanks and civil society organizations in order to strengthen democratic unity in Southeast Asia through regional cooperation. | https://www.cipe.org/where-we-work/asia-pacific/ |
| Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS) | The CSIS Southeast Asia program provides policy recommendations and support for US – Southeast Asia relations. CSIS’s Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative is widely recognized as a leading voice on South China Sea issues and developments. | https://www.csis.org/ |
| Chemonics International | Chemonics is an international development consulting firm. Their work in Asia includes a wide variety of countries and sectors — from health services in Bangladesh to mobile banking in the Philippines to improving enterprise competitiveness in Pakistan to mitigating the effects of climate change in the Maldives. | https://chemonics.com/region/asia/ |
| The East-West Center | The East-West Center promotes better relations and understanding among the people and nations of the United States, Asia, and the Pacific through cooperative study, research, and dialogue. Through the Young Professionals Program, the East-West Center in Washington offers a chance for students and recent graduates each semester to gain first-hand training experience in a US-Asia research and education organization in Washington, D.C. | https://www.eastwestcenter.org/ewc-in-washington/young-professionals-program-internship |
| McLarty Associates | McLarty Associates Global is a global advisory firm established in 1998 which works in more than 100 countries. McLarty has offices in Washington D.C. as well as Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, and Malaysia. Many former US Ambassadors to countries in the region serve on the Southeast Asia team. | https://maglobal.com/ |
| The Stimson Center | The Stimson Center is a think tank based in Washington D.C. which promotes international security, shared prosperity, and justice through applied research and independent analysis, deep engagement, and policy innovation. The Southeast Asia program at the Stimson Center has been working for more than 12 years on sustainable development and natural resource management in mainland Southeast Asia, with particular focus on developments in the Mekong River Basin. | https://www.stimson.org |
| Tetratech | Tetra Tech is a leading, global provider of consulting and engineering services. Tetra Tech is an implementing partner of USAID in multiple Asian countries, notably India. They offer comprehensive services for public-sector and commercial clients throughout Asia from their offices in India, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Philippines, and Thailand. | https://www.tetratech.com/en/asia |
| The US-Asia Institute (USAI) | USAI is a private, UN-associated NGO devoted to improving understanding and strengthening ties between the people and governments of the US and Asia. USAI works directly with 14 countries: Brunei, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, and Vietnam. USAI’s Internship Program gives hands-on experience for students interested in the field of US-Asian affairs. USAI also supports the Thai-American National Internship Program (TANIP) in consultation with the Royal Thai Embassy and the IMPACT! Program for Filipino-Americans. | https://www.usasiainstitute.org/our-work |
| US Chamber of Commerce | American Chambers of Commerce (AmChams) in Southeast Asia provide services to member companies throughout the region. The US Chamber of Commerce in Washington is the parent organization for AmChams abroad and sponsors AmChams in most Southeast Asian capitals. | https://www.uschamber.com/ |
| The United States – Indonesia Society (USINDO) | USINDO seeks to improve mutual understanding between the US and Indonesia and strengthen the bilateral relationship. USINDO was founded in 1994 and seeks to facilitate government, civil society, and non-governmental engagement across a wide range of issues including politics, economics, history, culture. | https://usindo.org/ |
Professional Development Opportunities for Southeast Asian Students
| Program | Description | Link |
| Thai-American National Internship Program (TANIP) | Sponsored by the Royal Thai Embassy, in consultation with the U.S.-Asia Institute, TANIP is organized to provide the opportunity for Thai-American students and young graduates to come to Washington D.C. for 9 weeks to get hands-on experience in the policymaking process. | https://thaiembdc.org/tanip/ |
| IMPACT! Program for Filipino-Americans | The IMPACT! Program for Filipino-Americans is a 9 week professional development program created by the US-Asia Institute (USAI) in coordination with the Embassy of the Philippines in Washington, D.C. and the Filipino Young Leaders Program. It is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for Filipino-American young adults to gain a firsthand look at the American government and political system in Washington D.C., to engage civically, and to reflect on the role they, as future leaders, might play in strengthening the US-Philippine relationship. | https://www.usasiainstitute.org/impactprogram |
Networking Groups in Washington D.C.
| Group | Description | Link |
| DC Asia Policy Network | A Facebook group that brings together professionals working or interested in the Asia policy field. The group, consisting of 2.5K members, hosts monthly happy hours and gatherings, as well as serves as a resource for Asia related events, gatherings, research, and professional opportunities. | https://www.facebook.com/groups/DCAsiaPolicyHH/ |
