This summer, three Iowa State University students, Tyson Fleshner (Global Resource Systems, Agriculture and Rural Policy Studies), Jennifer Holliday (Agricultural Studies, Journalism and Mass Communication), and Morgan Lang (Global Resource Systems, Agriculture and Rural Policy Studies) participated in international internships with government offices in Kosovo. The internships were made possible by Curt Youngs, Morrill Professor of animal science and M.E. Ensminger Endowed Chair of International Animal Agriculture at Iowa State, due to connections he has made through his more than 12 years of livestock development and education work in Kosovo.
Tyson Fleshner- "I interned for six weeks at the Assembly of Kosovo this summer with the Committee of Agriculture, Forestry, Rural Development, and the Environment. While there, I had the opportunity to attend draft law meetings, political party events, farm visits, and participate in cultural outings.
Living and working abroad this summer came with some challenges regarding the language barrier, different understandings of work-life balance, being away from home for an extended time, and other cultural differences that come up over time. My time in Kosovo working in the parliament taught me a lot about the policy-making process and the inner workings of a government on a national level. This summer, I also learned a lot about working cross-culturally and being more adaptable and independent as I took on new experiences."
Morgan Lang- "This summer, I completed an internship with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Rural Development in Kosovo, where I worked on projects and did research involving Kosovo’s agriculture, especially in the organic sector. There were incredible opportunities to travel to different cities with the Ministry, where I experienced more than I ever could have alone. Through conversation, I learned about the culture, history, and challenges in Kosovo's politics following the war in the late 90s.
One main challenge for me was the language barrier. While many people speak English, Albanian remains the main language spoken overall. It can feel a little isolating at times, but I had amazing coworkers who would translate for me, as well as teach me some Albanian!"
Jennifer Holliday- "This summer, I worked as a Science Intern at the Division for International Cooperation in Higher Education at the Ministry of Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation. This internship provided me with incredible opportunities to learn about the higher education system in Kosovo, the Western Balkans region, and the intricacies of international higher education legal work. I am very grateful to have had this incredible opportunity, and it was the experience of a lifetime."