Behind the imposing glass edifice of the World Bank in Washington, D.C., thousands of international development experts work to improve the peoples' lives in the developing world. Dr. Nita Rudra, an Assistant Professor at the University of Pittsburgh’s Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, assisted these officials by completing a one year fellowship in the social development unit from August 2006 to August 2007. During this time, she served as a Social Development Specialist, a position in which she advised World Bank officials on current projects and conducted peer reviews of their work. She also had the opportunity to travel to Dhaka, Bangladesh for three weeks to study local governance councils and to interview NGOs and government officials about the prospects of decentralized government in the country.
Reflecting on her World Bank fellowship, Dr. Rudra said that her most gratifying experiences at the World Bank involved “engaging in a dialogue with members of an international organization that does applied work on poverty and development” and “applying academic tools to real world challenges in a meaningful way.” Although she found short deadlines and Bank jargon challenging at times, overall, she believes that this opportunity enhanced her academic career and was an invaluable experience.
For those wishing to pursue a career at the World Bank, Dr. Rudra noted that the Bank offers Junior Professional, Young Professional, and Student Internship programs. These prestigious programs are not the only means to gain a permanent position at this institution; however, she added that “these are the three best avenues for finding work at the Bank.” Having experienced a positive and rewarding fellowship, Dr. Rudra recommends that GSPIA students seriously consider the World Bank’s various programs when contemplating their career options.
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