During the 2021-2023 school years, 13 students from SIGS had opportunities to work with 10 UN organizations through participation in conferences, internships, or projects.
During these experiences, our students not only get the chance to gain global competence but also contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
In this installation of our SIGSers Go Global Series, graduate Xu Yekai shares his experiences working at the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).
“Learning by doing is often the most effective way to gain insights,” says ’21 master’s graduate Xu Yekai. “When you have firsthand experience with international organizations and global governance, they cease to be distant and abstract entities seen only in the news.”
During his time at SIGS, Yekai, who majored in Data Science and Information Technology, had the chance to participate in internship programs at two international institutions, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).
From May to November 2020, at UNESCAP, Yekai was involved in drafting a policy brief addressing the support of inclusive businesses in the health sector during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, he assisted in organizing an international workshop focused on the promotion of grassroots innovation. The program allowed the opportunity to rotate among all types of work that staff commonly do to learn more about the work.
As his work at the UNESCAP was ending, Yekai learned about internship opportunities at the AIIB through the university’s Career Development website. Hoping to gain insight into a China-based, finance-related international organization, he promptly applied and was accepted to join the AIIB’s Implementation Monitoring Department in December 2020. His responsibilities were more aligned with his major in data science, encompassing tasks such as constructing investment-related databases and predicting investment behaviors, among other data-driven activities.
Xu Yekai at the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank in Beijing
Yekai’s two internships in international organizations provided a valuable perspective on their diverse approaches. “One organization was driven by idealism, striving to paint a compelling vision of a better world achievable through collective effort. The other took a more pragmatic path, focusing on tangible progress through substantial investments,” explained Yekai.
Yekai’s experiences at UNESCAP and the AIIB also helped him to pursue more opportunities with international organizations. After his AIIB internship ended in August 2021, he entered a PhD program at the University of Tokyo. In early 2022, he chanced upon a notice from the All-China Youth Federation recruiting Chinese delegates for the G20 Youth Summit (Y20). Despite a heavy academic workload, he didn’t want to miss the chance to participate in such a high-profile international event. Many other young people shared his enthusiasm, with over 350 applicants competing for just four delegate positions. Yekai’s communication skills, meeting facilitation abilities, and insights on international affairs honed during his two previous internships enabled him to stand out in the selection process. Yekai went on to represent China as a youth delegate for the digital transformation track at Y20.
At Y20, Yekai made new friends from various fields, both at home and abroad. Interacting with them allowed him to delve into previously unfamiliar areas like the philosophy of technology, ethics in artificial intelligence, digital currencies, and the realm of technology diplomacy.
“To current students, I'd suggest exploring opportunities that pique your interest, internships at international organizations, or other overseas experiences,” Yekai said. “The wealth of knowledge gained from these experiences is invaluable.”
Compiled by Zhu Lijing, Zhao Mengyuan, Ye Sijia & Alena Shish
Photos provided by Xu Yekai
Edited by Alena Shish & Yuan Yang
