Newark, NJ (BUSINESS WIRE – May 6, 2010) – Twenty-four college students from India, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan today became the first group to complete The Prudential Foundation Global Citizens program, an international exchange program that provides academic and work experience – launched earlier this year at The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars.
“The knowledge and experience The Washington Center has provided these young people gives them a global perspective that will have a lifelong impact on them and their communities around the world,” said Gabriella Morris, vice president and head of Community Resources at Prudential and president of The Prudential Foundation. “The Prudential Foundation Global Citizens program is part of our growing international presence and represents the expansion of our grant-making activities into Asia. Through this program, we are building a cohort global leaders who will be ambassadors of Prudential throughout the world.”
The Prudential Foundation Board of Directors in 2009 approved a $1 million three-year grant to the Washington Center to create Global Citizens Program. Over three years a total of 75 undergraduate and graduate students from colleges and universities in India, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan will spend Spring semester at The Washington Center in a 15-week experience that will teach them about the American financial system and its role in the global economy. The participants also fill internship positions in business, government and nonprofit organizations in Washington, D.C.
Students also will learn about development theories, business and trade modeling and policymaking processes; develop professional networks and such critical skills as cross-cultural understanding, communication and leadership to prepare them to make a lasting impact on their communities when they return home.
“The Prudential Foundation Global Citizens scholars joined The Washington Center’s 400 other students from around the world to share a memorable and stimulating learning experience that is unique in its academic and career development opportunities,” said Michael Smith, president, The Washington Center. “This is the first time that the Center has received significant support from a foundation to engage students from India, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan in our programs. The students had a great experience.”
The Global Citizens interned four days a week at institutions involved in economic trends, regulatory and oversight issues, globalization, small business ownership and entrepreneurship, monetary and fiscal policies, consumer credit, business ethics and financial and banking services. In addition, the scholars had academic course work and attended special events with experts and leaders in the private, public and nonprofit sectors.
When the first class of Global Citizens return to their home countries this month, each will be responsible for leading a civic engagement project of their choice. Projects will range from a volunteer activity that addresses a specific issue to a project-based interaction with an institution working to advance a social cause.
The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars is an independent, nonprofit organization serving hundreds of colleges and universities in the United States and other countries by providing selected students challenging opportunities to work and learn in Washington, D.C. for academic credit. The largest program of its kind, The Washington Center has 70 full-time staff and over 40,000 alumni, many of whom are in leadership positions in the public, private and nonprofit sectors in the United States and around the world.
The second group of Global Citizens will be selected in the fall and will arrive at The Washington Center in January 2011.
The Prudential Foundation, is a not-for-profit corporation supported by The Prudential Insurance Company of America, a subsidiary of Prudential Financial, Inc.
