UNU Junior Fellows Internship 2024 in Tokyo, Japan (Fully Funded)

The United Nations University (UNU) is offering an internship called the UNU Junior Fellows Internship 2024 in Tokyo, Japan. This internship is based at the UNU Office of the Rector in Tokyo. It’s a four-month opportunity to work as a Junior Fellow at the UNU headquarters. The internship will last 16 weeks, from August 12, 2024, to December 20, 2024.

The UNU will give a monthly allowance to help cover living expenses and transportation from your home country to the UNU headquarters in Shibuya. Junior fellows get 1.5 days off each month, plus weekends and UNU holidays. They also get free office space and other facilities. You can find more information about the UNU Junior Fellows Internship and how to apply below.

About The Junior Fellows Internship Program in the Office of The Rector

The United Nations University Office of the Rector hires highly qualified applicants to work as Junior Fellows at the UNU headquarters in Tokyo. Junior Fellows are selected through a competitive process twice a year. Graduate students interested in the work of the United Nations, especially UNU, are encouraged to apply.

The Junior Fellows Internship Programme at the Office of the Rector aims to provide a dynamic, challenging, and rewarding experience for graduate-level students and young professionals. Successful candidates will contribute to the work of the Office of the Rector, the United Nations University, and the UN system. The program offers opportunities to practically develop and apply new skills and knowledge, building on graduate studies.

Purpose of The Junior Fellows Internship Program

The Junior Fellows Internship Programme at the Office of the Rector aims to:

1. Encourage young scholars and professionals to connect and talk with UNU.

2. Help junior fellows understand what the Office of the Rector and UNU do.

3. Give young professionals a chance to gain practical experience in a UN agency.

4. Introduce young professionals to an administrative work setting.

5. Support activities within the Office of the Rector.

Working Conditions

Junior Fellows are chosen twice a year, in May-June for the fall term and September-October for the spring term, which aligns with most university semesters. The fall term starts in mid-August and goes until mid-December, while the spring term runs from mid-February to mid-June. They mainly work at the UNU headquarters in Tokyo but can sometimes work remotely. For the Fall 2024 term, applicants from Japan and overseas will be considered, no matter where they currently live.

Junior Fellows work full-time during the university’s regular hours, from 9:30 to 17:30, Monday to Friday. They get weekends and UNU holidays off, plus 1.5 days of leave each month. When working on-site, they have office space and facilities provided. Junior Fellows need their laptop or desktop with internet access for remote work. They receive a monthly stipend to help with living costs and transportation to and from the UNU headquarters in Shibuya.

Junior Fellows also get free access to the headquarters library and gym, and they can participate in organizing conferences, lectures, and other events throughout the year.

Financial Benefits

  • Interns who don’t receive financial support from other sources, like universities, will get a stipend from UNU.
  • The stipend helps cover basic living costs during the internship.
  • The stipend amount depends on the duty station and the current stipend rates.
  • Stipends are paid monthly.
  • Part-time interns receive a prorated portion of the stipend based on their work hours.

Responsibilities

In this program, participants can participate in different activities that show how the university works. Junior Fellows help the Office of the Rector in these areas:

  • Doing research and writing to help the University grow.
  • Helping with planning and making tools for managing projects.
  • Organizing events, both in person and online.
  • Assisting with meetings by organizing and taking notes.
  • Checking reports for mistakes and editing them.
  • Getting information ready and sending it out, like newsletters and event summaries.

Competence

Value

  • Inclusion: Treat everyone with respect and dignity, regardless of age, culture, disability, gender, or other characteristics.
  • Integrity: Always act ethically and follow the rules of the United Nations. If you see someone doing something wrong, speak up.
  • Humility: Be open to learning from others and recognize that you don’t know everything.
  • Humanity: Follow the United Nations’ goals of peace, equality, and protecting our planet.

Behaviours

  • Connect and Collaborate: Build good relationships with others to help the United Nations work better together.
  • Analyse and Plan: Use information from different sources to understand problems, make decisions, develop evidence-based solutions, and plan actions.
  • Deliver Results with Positive Impact:  Make sure you and others are responsible for getting things done and making a positive difference for the people and causes the United Nations helps.
  • Learn and Develop: Keep learning and growing yourself, and help others do the same.
  • Adapt and Innovate: Be flexible, quick to change, and able to generate new ideas and ways of doing things.

Eligibility Criteria for UNU Junior Fellows Internship

Here are the qualifications we look for in each application:

  1. Currently studying or recently finished postgraduate studies (master’s or doctoral), preferably in a field related to the University’s work.
  2. Under 32 years old when applying.
  3. At most, 5 years of work experience in their field.
  4. Good at speaking and writing English.
  5. Excellent at research, writing, and thinking critically.
  6. Able to work well with people from different backgrounds.
  7. Good at solving problems in creative ways.
  8. Advanced computer skills, especially with MS Office (knowing Excel well is a plus).
  9. Interested in the work of the United Nations, especially the United Nations University.

Required Documents

Here are the required documents for your application:

  • Resume or CV
  • Cover Letter
  • Application Form
  • Funding Form 
  • Letters of Recommendation and Recommendation Form

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Details About UNU Junior Fellows Internship 2024 in Tokyo, Japan

CountryJapan
ProgramUNU Junior Fellows Internship
Financial BenefitsFully funded
Internship Duration16 Weeks
Dates of Internship12th August 2024 to 20th December 2024
Deadline10th May 2024

How to Apply for the UNU Junior Fellows Internship 2024?

Here’s how to apply to UNU:

1. Use the official link to start your application process.

2. Answer Questions: Respond to a few tailored questions about the position.

3. CV: Attach a current, complete CV in English. Your CV should be at most two single-sided pages.

4. Cover Letter: Include a cover letter in English stating your interest in the program and how you can contribute to the Office of the Rector’s work. Your cover letter should be no longer than one single-sided page and include the following:

  •    What are your motivations for applying
  •    How you can contribute to the work
  •    How does the program align with your career goals?

5. Application Form: Complete and upload the Application Form via the link. You can fill it out using MS Word or print it and fill it out by hand.

6. Funding Form: Fill out the Funding Form and upload it via the link. This form should detail your funding sources, amount, and duration in Tokyo.

7. Letters of Recommendation and Recommendation Form: Arrange for two letters of recommendation from referees familiar with your character and work. Referees should not be family members or friends.

  •    At least one referee should be a professor acquainted with your academic abilities.
  •    Referees need to complete a Recommendation Form and accompany it with a letter of recommendation. These should be submitted via email following the instructions in the Form.

8. Language Certification: If English is not your native language or the medium of instruction in your previous studies, provide certification. You can submit a valid TOEFL, IELTS, or TOEIC score report. Accepted score ranges are provided for each test.

Assessment Process

The application process has three stages. Follow the instructions for each stage below. Your application will not be considered if it doesn’t follow these instructions.

STAGE 1

The first part of the application process checks how motivated and qualified you are for the position. It involves submitting the documents mentioned earlier. Qualified candidates may be evaluated by reviewing their documents and/or an interview. References may also be checked.

STAGE 2

Candidates who reach the next stage will have a phone or Zoom interview scheduled. This interview helps the Internship Committee learn more about the candidate’s reasons for applying, expectations, and goals for the internship. It also checks their communication skills, how they interact with others, and how well they speak English. After the first stage ends, more information about the interview and scheduling will be given. Only candidates who are shortlisted will be contacted.

STAGE 3

Applicants must complete a short assignment similar to those they’ll do during the internship. They’ll do this assignment on the same day as their interview, at a time we agree on. It might take about 2 hours to finish the assignment.

ACCEPTANCE

The chosen applicants must sign an Agreement Form, like a contract, with the Office of the Rector. This form will be sent by mail to those who are selected. They must sign and date the form and return it to the Office of the Rector to finish their application. Afterward, if needed, selected applicants will start their application process for a Japanese visa.