On a recent Tuesday morning, twenty Mason students traveled downtown for a unique opportunity provided to them as Global Politics Fellows (GPF); a site visit to the global headquarters of the World Bank Group. After a stop for security verification, GPF students and faculty were taken inside the World Bank’s vast complex to meet with Angelica Silvero. Ms. Silvero, a Brazilian national and John Hopkins University graduate, talked to the cohort about a variety of issues. She gave the students an overview of the operations of the bank and how it functioned in the past and how it has changed over time. Specifically, Ms. Silvero led a discussion about how the bank attempts to encourage development, which programs they have typically found to be most effective and which have not.
The students were also introduced to the data sources the World Bank compiles and makes available on their website- information that many will no doubt find useful for their assignments for their GPF courses and for their GPF internships. Finally, Ms. Silvero closed on what life was like working in the World Bank Group, an organization that has more than ten thousand employees around the globe. Amir Noorbakhsh, a Global Affairs major, and a sophomore here at Mason, said of the experience, "During the visit, a World Bank representative educated our group about the Bank's mission in ending poverty and funding development projects abroad sponsored by donor countries. It was great to see such a motivated, large group of people with similar goals in World Development. While there, we also learned about career opportunities with the World Bank and ways to get involved with the Bank."
The visit closed with lunch in the famous World Bank cafeteria, which features excellent food and chefs from around the world. Some students also visited the World Bank bookstore, which sells textbooks World Bank employees have donated for under $10. Both unexpected highlights during the group’s visit.
Experiences like the visit to the World Bank are not new to the Global Politics Fellows. Site visits are a critical part of the GPF program, with previous cohorts visiting the US Institute of Peace and SRA International. The site visits give the Global Politics Fellows an understanding of the role different organizations play in the greater international arena. Cohorts get the opportunity to talk to employees of this organization, build their professional network or inquire about internship and job opportunities.
March 18, 2014