Two University of Queensland students have the chance to launch careers in the competitive international development sector, thanks to the university’s strong links with a major global development management firm.
Bachelor of Social Science student Deanna Simpson has won a $5000 scholarship and internship at GRM International, and fellow social science student Ester Robson has been offered an internship.
GRM Senior Manager Celia Grenning said the UQ scholarship and internship were the result of a long-standing relationship between UQ and GRM.
“We are impressed with the calibre of the two interns selected this year and look forward to supporting Deanna and Ester on their path to becoming development practitioners,” she said.
GRM offers one six-month scholarship and internship annually to a student from UQ’s Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences.
The company created an extra internship position for Ester this year, based on an exceptional application.
Awardees are selected for their academic results, passion for the global development industry and world development experience.
Deanna said the link between universities and industry leaders was important for students wanting to break into the international development sector.
“The partnership between GRM and UQ gives students an opportunity to work with an industry partner, which is really important in development because the theoretical space at university can differ to work on the ground,” she said.
Deanna has done volunteer work with youth-led development organisation The Oaktree Foundation since 2008.
She has raised money and advocated for aid projects fighting against extreme poverty.
In 2010 Deanna lived in Kenya as a member of a Maasai tribe before moving to Nairobi to volunteer in a Kibera slum, where she co-founded and co-directed non-governmental organisation Kijani4Youth.
Ester has also dedicated herself to humanitarian work.
In the past year she has been tutoring Brisbane refugee families with Volunteer Refugee Tutoring & Community Support and has visited asylum seekers in transit at a Brisbane detention centre for Refugee Action Collective.
She is a mentor for the Australian Indigenous Mentoring Experience program, which helps Indigenous high school students with their studies.
The GRM scholarship started in 2005, and was then linked with the university’s Agribusiness school.
It later connected with development studies in UQ’s Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences.
“As GRM is a Brisbane-based company, many of the senior management staff are UQ graduates,” Ms Grenning said.
“One of our past UQ interns is working for the company – so that’s proof this great relationship is working.
Acting Executive Dean of the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences Associate Professor Julie Duck said the internships provided development students with valuable opportunities and the faculty looked forward to continuing its partnership with GRM International.
Media: Deanna Simpson, deanna.simpson@uqconnect.edu.au, Ester Robson, ester.robson@uqconnect.edu.au, or Kristen Bastian (UQ Communications), 07 3346 9279 or k.bastian@uq.edu.au
