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Experiential Learning

Internships

All students are expected to complete a twelve week internship after year 1. Students who do not secure internships will need to take 6 credits of courses in the summer term. Bilingual students are in demand by the managers across the the public and private sector. Students are supported in preparing a cv and provided feedback from mock interviews.  MPIA students have secured Internships with the federal government, federal MP constituency offices, the Ontario Public Service, non-government organizations, Ottawa based embassies and international organizations. Internships have become increasingly competitive in recent years, as both private and public sector organizations are more selective in choosing qualified candidates.

Thanks to a cooperation agreement signed in April 2023 with the NATO Security Force Assistance Centre of Excellence in Italy, Glendon students have the possibility of an internship at the NATO centre. These two positions are exclusive to MPIA students and offer an opportunity to further develop research, analysis and communication skills.  

The impact of all placements is significant, with several students stating that the placements were ‘transformative’.

Study Trip to the United Nations

For many graduate students, the highlight of the academic year is the study trip. In April 2024 students visited the United Nations in New York. The event agenda included the unique opportunity to meet with senior representatives of the UN as well as a one-on-one session with Canadian Ambassador to the UN, the Honourable Bob Rae. 

Over the two-day study trip, students held discussions with leaders including: 

  • Ambassador Bob Rae, Canadian Mission to the UN 
  • Ambassador Greta Gunnarsdottir, Director, United Nations Relief and Works Agency 
  • Mr. Thomas Kontogeorgos, UN Dept of Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration 
  • Ms. Dlila Sadinlija, UN Genocide Prevention 
  • Mr. Samuel Martell, UN Climate, Peace and Security 
  • Ms. Brett Hanley, World Food Programme

In April 2025 students took part in a study tour of Washington DC. This included meetings with international organizations, US officials and others: 

  • Deputy Director for Canadian Affairs, US State Department Mr. Ben Canavan
  • Katharine Rechico, Executive Director of World Bank 
  • Will Paterson, Glendon alumni working at the World Bank 
  • Frank Sesno, Executive Director George Washington University School of Media and Public Affairs 
  • Christopher Sands, Director Canada Institute, Wilson Centre 
  • Carrie Goodge O’Brien, Canadian Embassy
  • Major General Borys Kremeneskyi, Defence Attaché, Ukrainian Embassy 

These experiences outside the classroom offered students new insights and strengthened their desire to make positive change.

National Public Administration Case Competition

Since 2011, a team of students has competed in the National Public Administration Case Competition organized by the Canadian Association for Programs in Public Administration. Twelve to 15 teams from across Canada take part every year for one of the three top positions. Students are provided a policy question and given one week to present a response to a panel. 

Coached by BMO Senior Fellow Andrew Mackey and Professor Francis Garon, topics include the issue of contracting. Students were asked to provide an assessment of the challenges and to outline advice for decision-makers. Students consistently rate the competition as a valuable experience in understanding how decisions are made and the importance of teamwork.