Internship Programs

UNWTO Internships

Unpaid Internships

The goal of the UNWTO internship is to expand the knowledge of the selected candidates about what is most relevant in international tourism, promoting integration between interns and the agency’s employees. Thus, UNWTO offers a continuous learning environment to its interns, who will be supervised by one of the agency’s specialists.

In pursuit of its mission, the OpenIGO network has prepared a comprehensive eBook and support and guidance services, with the aim of highly increasing your chances of success in these competitive processes. These services include revising your UN internships application documents (curriculum vitae/resume and cover letter) and a mock interview, as per the United Nations model. We also offer a range of packages that combine the eBook with different services.

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UN Internships – PDF eBook

UNWTO Overview

The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) was created with the purpose of stimulating access to tourism around the world in a sustainable way. The agency is an international reference in the field and seeks to make tourism a source of growth and economic development by the means of the Sustainable Development Goals established by the United Nations. It is also responsible for setting standards and regulations for global tourism. It has technical assistance projects in more than 100 nations around the world, spreading good practices and knowledge that encourages the development of nations. The agency seeks to promote integration among its various partners, which includes more than 500 members of the private sector, tourism associations and educational organizations, in addition to its 159 member states.

UNWTO’s main focus: Promoting tourism as a way to achieve the economic development of nations.

Themes addressed by the UNWTO:

Policy Planning
Statistics and Market Trends
Sustainable Tourism Development
Marketing and Promotion
Product Development and Risk and Crisis Management

Description of the UNWTO Internship

What are the fields of study required for the UNWTO Internship?

This internship program includes students and recent graduates from the most diverse fields of knowledge. The areas of study with the highest demand in this program are:

Business Administration
Management
Tourism
Other related areas

What are the tasks performed by the selected for the UNWTO Internship?

The activities performed vary according to the opening and the requirements of the different departments to which interns are allocated. However, generally speaking, the main duties are:

Support in administrative and operational activities, in the formulation of contracts and other types of documents;
Carry out research, data collection and analysis on themes relevant to tourism;
Draft reports about the researched topics;
Take part in training and events with other members of the agency.

What is the duration of the UNWTO Internship?

The internship period is up to 6 months at most.

What is the weekly workload of the UNWTO Internship?

The internship programs are full-time. Interns shall therefore work between 35 and 40 hours per week.

Where are the locations of the UNWTO Internship?

The main offices and departments are located in Madrid (Spain), there are some offices outside the main headquarters around the world.

When does the UNWTO Internship start?

The initial date of the internship shall be coordinated between the intern and the organization.

Is there any feedback following the completion of the UNWTO Internship?

At the end of the internship, the supervisor is in charge of preparing an assessment report of the intern’s performance.

Subsequent employment:

Participation in the internship is not related to future employment with the agency. During the internship period and within three months immediately after the program you will not be eligible to apply for or be appointed to any effective position. However, the work experience in the agency will be a distinctive feature in your curriculum, which may facilitate your hiring by other organizations inside or outside the UN System.

UNWTO Internship - Salary

The internship is unpaid.

UNWTO Internship - Requirements

What is the education requirement of the UNWTO Internship Program?

Be enrolled in a graduate school program (Master’s or PhD), or;
Have graduated from an undergraduate or graduate course in the last 12 months.

What is the language requirement of the UNWTO Internship Program?

Fluency in English and Spanish is required for internships at UNWTO’s headquarters in Madrid (Spain). Knowledge of another language in the UN System (Arabic, Chinese, Russian and French) will be an advantage in the selection process.

What is the age requirement of the UNWTO Internship Program?

Applicants must be at least 18 years old at the time of enrollment.

What is the nationality requirement of the UNWTO Internship Program?

Applicants must be citizens of a UNWTO member state.

What are the competencies required for the UNWTO Internship Program?

The main competencies required are:

Teamwork;
Communication skills;
Knowledge of conventional technological tools;
Creativity, discipline and efficiency;
Customer support.

Other requirements:

Most internships require no work experience. However, previous experiences may be an advantage in the selection process.

What are the restrictions of the UNWTO Internship Program?

An applicant may not be a child or sibling of any organization staff member.

UNWTO Internship - Application process

When to apply for the UNWTO Internship Program?

Application deadlines vary depending on the openings and the needs of the organization. Therefore, it is important to search for internship opportunities on our website and social media platforms.

How to apply for the UNWTO Internship Program?

The internship application process is done via the UNWTO E-recruitment System, where all openings are published, and comprises the following steps:

Initial registration;
Filling out the candidate profile (academic and professional background);
Search for an opening in your field of interest;
Filling out the application form;
Submit the application.

What are the phases of the selection process for the UNWTO Internship Program?

The selection process may vary depending on the department or office to which the intern is applying, but generally comprises the following steps:

Creating a profile and preparing an application;
Submitting the application;
Evaluation of the application;
Competency-based interview;
Selection notifications.

How is the UNWTO Internship Program interview?

Usually, only selected applicants will be contacted for the interview, which lasts about 30 minutes and may be done via Skype or phone. The main points covered in the interview vary according to the opening and department chosen. In general, however, the questions address subjective or behavioral aspects, such as your expectations about the job, your interests in the area of expertise you are applying for and your previous experiences.

What are the documents to submit for the UNWTO Internship Program?

You must submit your CV and/or cover letter in UNWTO’s E-recruitment System. Each file must not exceed 800KB in size. File extensions accepted are: txt, rtf, html, odf, pdf, doc, docx, ppt, pptx, xls, xlsx and xml.

What is the evaluation criteria of the UNWTO Internship Program?

You will be evaluated regarding your previous experience, skills and competencies, and educational background.

Other information:

It is important to submit your application in advance. Internship openings at UN Careers are removed from the portal at midnight of the deadline, New York time (GMT-5). You will not be able to modify your application after submission.

UNWTO Internship - Costs

The agency offers no financial aid to cover costs related to preparing for or doing the internship, but interns may be eligible for a monthly stipend of €500 to cover transportation expenses. You may also request financial aid from a sponsoring institution, for example, a university and/or government agency in your country.

Visa:

You or your sponsoring institution will be responsible for the costs and arrangements of obtaining the visa (if needed to do the internship).

Insurance:

You or your sponsoring institution will be responsible for the costs of enrolling in a valid global medical insurance plan.

Accommodation:

You or your sponsoring institution will be responsible for accommodation expenses during the internship period.