A student has been awarded a prestigious internship with the Washington Ireland Program with the support of the Institute of Irish Studies.
Laura Mullin, a Combined Honours Law and Politics student who also took Irish Studies modules, was one of 24 successful candidates out of 350 entries to the competition.
The Washington Ireland Program was set up in 1995 to ‘inspire, prepare and support the next generation of leaders of post-conflict Ireland to face the challenges of the future’.
It consists of a six-month programme of personal and professional development, and leadership training undertaken in Northern Ireland and Ireland. One of the team projects they undertake during training is to develop their vision for the future of post-conflict Ireland.
The internship culminates in a prestigious eight-week work placement in Washington DC at a Congressional office, Government department, business corporation or media corporation. The programme is supported by the United States State Department, the Department of Education and Science in Ireland and the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister in Northern Ireland.
Laura said: “Being part of the Institute of Irish Studies department had contributed to my interest in cross-border relations, in particular work I had done regarding the impact of the peace process and the recent peace and reconciliation panel debate.”
Professor Marianne Elliott, Director of the Institute, said: “I am delighted that Laura has been successful in getting a place in the Washington Ireland Program this year, it is a tremendous opportunity for her. This prestigious internship will give Laura unique skills for her future career, and the Institute is very proud that this is the second year running that a student has been successful in getting a place on the program.”