Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in Qatar (GU- Q) agrees innovative internship scheme with Blue Rubicon
Georgetown University in Qatar (GU-Q) announced a new summer internship agreement for its students with leading global strategic communications consultancy, Blue Rubicon. The newly signed partnership will bring together three students this year for an intensive summer immersion program at Blue Rubicon headquarters office in London.
The specially developed scheme, is designed to help students understand and explore the field of strategic communications, as well as experience the professional working environment in one of the world’s most developed and cynical media markets.
Gerd Nonneman, Dean of Georgetown university in Qatar said: “Blue Rubicon’s internship program is an excellent fit for our students. It will provide our students with vital exposure, and give them an opportunity to cover as many aspects of strategic communications and public relations consultancy as possible. Blue Rubicon advises some of the world’s biggest brands and organizations, as well as many prominent institutions in Qatar, so the experience they will gain will be invaluable in their future careers.”
The widely recognized scheme is one of the most successful communications internship programs in its field. Blue Rubicon Internship Programme has been running in the UK for over five years and has opened its doors to hundreds of students to give them an opportunity to gain transferable skills that can be built on and developed in any career path that students choose to follow. It is often an effective springboard to a place on Blue Rubicon’s highly sought after graduate trainee scheme.
Under the current plan, which is wholly funded by Blue Rubicon LLC, GU-Q juniors Farah Mallah, Salman Ahad Khan and sophomore Nourhan Elsayed were chosen from a long list of applicants to be the first beneficiaries of a London internship at Blue Rubicon.
Neil Daugherty, Blue Rubicon LLC Qatar’s Managing Director said “Georgetown University-Qatar provides a perfect partner for us as its ethos encapsulates our belief in combining an international viewpoint with a deep understanding of Qatar’s history and culture. We were pleased to receive many applications for the opportunity, in its first year, from international students. The quality and passion of the students’ applications was humbling, and we look forward to welcoming Farah, Nourhan and Salman to London in July. As young people with inquiring minds, we believe they will fit in well at Blue Rubicon. They will join a growing number of Qataris working for our clients, whom we have been pleased to offer similar opportunities to visit London, and grow their professional skills and experience.”
This year’s internship is expanding globally following Blue Rubicon’s decision to locate its first international office in Qatar last September. The program is structured to showcase the global practice through an in-house two week training scheme at Blue Rubicon’s London offices, followed by another two weeks in the agency’s Doha office later this year, to provide the students with a comprehensive international communications approach, blending an international view with a local understanding of Qatar’s history and culture.
“The biggest brake on the sustainable growth of our business has always been our ability to find talented people who meet our exacting standards and commitment to quality. The same is true as we continue to grow and win business in Qatar, as it is in London”, said Daugherty.
During their time in London, the students will have the opportunity to learn from Blue Rubicon’s acknowledged experts in the fields of strategic communications, public relations, media training, crisis management, and cutting edge digital communications.
Sandy Kim, Careers Services Manager at GU-Q said “Offering such an opportunity to our students is a unique and exciting experience. We reach out to diverse set of businesses and institutions in Qatar like Blue Rubicon, in order to establish a strong relationship to assist and facilitate the process of finding a suitable career opportunity for our students. We are excited about this partnership and look forward to working further with Blue Rubicon” she added.