Getting into development

Interning with The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies February 17, 2011

Florian Lipowski came to King’s College London from Germany for an MA in International Conflict Studies. When he came back for his graduation ceremony in 2011 he talked to us about how he organised his internship at the Hague Centre for Strategic Studies while completing his studies. (http://www.hcss.nl/en/about/145/Work-with-us.html).  Jeff Riley, January 2011

When did you do your internship?  Well I went back to Germany to complete my dissertation and it was towards the end of that, in September 2010, when I was able to start an internship in the Netherlands. Actually I am still there for another two months or so.

How did you find out about it? Well now that I know how well known it is I’m a little embarrassed that I hadn’t come across it before it came up in a general web search. They recruit interns fairly regularly and one of the intakes fitted in with my timetable for completing my masters.  Since then I have also found out that lots of students across Europe do know about it and rumor has it that they get about 20 applications a day for their paid internships.

What does the organisation do? It provides support and advice in areas affecting international and national defence and security with an emphasis on long term forecasting. It works closely with the Dutch Foreign and Defence Ministries and has an income from selling its reports and analysts’ work to a range of clients. Some issues that I’m currently working on concern resource scarcity, or the Beijing consensus and its implications for liberal democracy and capitalism. Typically HCSS tries to look 15-20 years ahead but some reports will give a more immediate perspective. Recently, for example, on the increasing importance of the Chinese military and its role in the ambitions of China on the world stage.  Finally I should say there are around 30 staff but with the permanent affiliations with Dutch institutions there are always more people than that around. 

Was the internship hard to get? I heard that they do get more than 100 applications for each post.  Interns typically are often Dutch but the most recent intake comprises a majority of other nationalities. Very few from the UK, I have to say, though over half the analysts are King’s alumni.

Is there any reason why British students couldn’t apply? None at all. For example the language in the office and the reports are all in English.  My current boss is from Palestine and he has no Dutch at all. Dutch nationals have lots of English language skills – I’ve even talked to some homeless people in English!

Things like accommodation are easily sorted. I sorted my own accommodation via an expats web site. Its decent quality – all IKEA but fine, including a big flat screen tv.  It costs 675 euros, utilities included, but there are cheaper places.  My allowance of 700 euros from HCSS means I need to use other resources. There are cheaper options though. One girl I know is sharing a lovely typical Dutch place with a couple of others and she is paying just over 325 euros including all bills. That means you can survive and even go to a club once a week on the allowance.  I wouldn’t advise trying to get another job to supplement the allowance though.  It is a full time internship.

What do you do on the internship? It’s a research internship. After an initial couple of weeks finding your feet you will be assigned to a programme. I was able to change to something I was more interested in after I was assigned to something.  The analysts you negotiate with about this are fine with that and, in fact you are encouraged to voice your opinion and say what you want to work on.  In any case typically you would have not just your main research project but also a subsidiary one so that introduces an element of flexibility.  Projects vary from for example the 

• ‘Pillars of Power’ initiative which explores how we can best measure ‘power’ in the future. It won’t just be a case of counting military ships and hardware but include other aspects of a society. This is an ongoing project.
• World Foresight Forum – A project concluding in April 2011 for which HCSS is a partner. This  seeks to develop future roadmaps around  global challenges such as climate change, resource scarcity, demographic shifts and the global financial crisis – all things which may affect prosperity and safety.
• Other topics included things like economic warfare, Beijing consensus and nuclear proliferation and tools of economic statecraft. This latter, for example is essentially a literature review with a  mapping of what consensus and disagreements exist about how states will deal with each other in the future. For me this project had rather too much emphasis on analysing what other people say and not enough opportunity to express my own ideas.

What are you getting out of it?  Well I’ve learned a lot about the importance of economics for example and have a good understanding the growing weight of China.  You have to read so much and learn about topics that weren’t necessarily  in the  academic curriculum.  The standard of work we have to produce is quite academic and not that different from university Masters level essays but do involve  a  more continental style ‘overview’ approach than arguing your own specific standpoint.

You are also working around highly qualified and high profile people. Often with PhD’s, or a number of Masters qualifications. Also people from other sectors such as engineering and telecommunications, not just international relations. 

I’ve enjoyed being in The Hague as well. It isn’t the most exciting city in the world for sure but it’s a nice town and I’ve enjoyed making some new friends and colleagues.

I haven’t especially been using the internship to sound out potential jobs – I think my vocation lies elsewhere in a more practical and less desk based sphere. I know my fellow interns though have been excited about the networking opportunities the internship provides. My experience will provide evidence of things like multi tasking, teamworking, organisational skills and working to tight deadlines.  It proves that you are considered worth some remuneration – 700 euros a month isn’t nothing.