CEAS student Yiyi Gu reflects on her UN internship

The Center for East Asian Studies (CEAS) sat down with MA student Yiyi Gu (MA '26), who recently completed a transformative winter quarter internship with the Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Section (GESIS) at the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN ESCAP) in Bangkok. With financial support from Stanford Global Studies' Global Perspectives Award, Yiyi was able to use this internship opportunity to explore how gender research and policy are put into practice on the international stage. In this interview, Yiyi shared some insights about UN internship opportunities, practical advice for interested students, and reflections on real-world applications of what she has learned in the classroom.
 

CEAS: How did you hear about this internship opportunity and what made you want to get involved?

Yiyi Gu (Gu): I learned about this internship through the official United Nations internship website while actively looking for opportunities related to gender and social development. I have always been interested in gender issues, and the opportunity with the Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Section (GESIS) at the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN ESCAP) felt like a very good match for my academic interests and research background.

Since I had finished my classes and completed about half of my thesis during the Fall quarter, I felt that the Winter quarter was a good time to try something new outside the classroom. I wanted to see how gender research and policy work actually happen in practice, and whether this type of work would suit me in the future. It felt like a meaningful opportunity to explore and challenge myself.

Although this internship opportunity was unpaid, I was fortunate to receive the Global Perspectives Award from Stanford Global Studies, which helped cover my living expenses throughout the internship.

CEAS: What tasks and projects did you work on during your internship period?

Gu: During my internship, I worked on communications, policy support, and research-related projects across several major initiatives.

On the communications side, I designed social media posts, flyers, presentations, and digital exhibition materials to support outreach efforts. One major project was contributing to a large digital exhibition for the Committee on Social Development (CS82), where I helped prepare visual materials and organize content so that complex policy information could be presented in an accessible and engaging way for delegates and visitors.

I also supported intergovernmental processes by assisting with source checking, analyzing, and revising language in draft declarations and negotiation documents. This work required careful attention to wording and a strong understanding of how specific terms reflect agreed international commitments among member States.

Currently, I am involved in developing a publication on the future of care systems in Asia and the Pacific. This project uses foresight methods to explore how major trends such as demographic change, digital transformation, and climate change may shape care systems by 2040. My responsibilities include helping organize focus group discussions with experts and writing the foresight chapter that examines possible future scenarios and their implications.

CEAS: What was the most interesting part of your work? What was your biggest challenge?

Gu: The most interesting part of my work was observing intergovernmental meetings, where representatives from different member states discuss and negotiate policy language. It was fascinating to see how global agreements are actually formed through detailed discussion and careful choice of words. These meetings made the work of international organizations feel much more concrete to me.

The biggest challenge was managing the pace and number of tasks. Many assignments were time-sensitive, and during busy periods, I often had to work on several things at the same time. I consider myself an organized person, but this experience still pushed me to improve my time management and prioritization skills.

CEAS: Was it your first time at your internship location in Bangkok? What was it like to live there?

Gu: This was my first time living in Bangkok. I had only traveled there once before, so staying there for a longer period felt quite new.

Daily life in Bangkok was very different from what I was used to, especially in terms of the weather and transportation. One memorable part of my routine was commuting to work by motorcycle taxi, which is a very common way to get around the city. It felt a bit scary at first, but also interesting, and it quickly became part of my everyday life. It took me about one month to actually adjust to Bangkok, but that was also what made the experience memorable.

CEAS: What advice would you give to other students who want to do a similar internship or an internship with the UN?

Gu: I would definitely encourage students to give it a try, even if working at the United Nations sounds a bit intimidating at first. The organization may seem very large from the outside, but the people inside are very supportive and friendly, especially toward young people who are still exploring their career paths.

There are also many people in their twenties working or interning in the UN system, so it feels like a place where learning and growth are encouraged. At the same time, the UN covers many different areas, from social development to climate change and technology. My advice would be to choose a field that you are genuinely interested in or curious about, because that interest will help you stay motivated and make the most of the experience.