An eye-opening, engaging and rewarding experience!
As an economics student, I am deeply interested in understanding how rigorous modelling coupled with data-driven analysis can be used to effectuate economic and social change through guiding real-world decision-making. Over the last few years, I have increasingly recognised that unlocking the potential value that this discipline could bring hinges on whether one can discern which models and tools would be appropriate for the given context. To develop my capacity for making substantive judgements, I sought out The Intern Group to match me with a suitable organisation that would enable me to apply the skills and knowledge I've learnt from my time at university. The experience itself was highly challenging and intellectually stimulating; it forced me to think critically about what would constitute a useful deliverable for my partner organisation, in addition to how it should be presented to communicate my findings accessibly. In contrast to university coursework, which is generally evaluated in accordance with a well-defined set of criteria, I was granted the liberty to be creative in how I approached this project. Consequently, I had the chance to engage in divergent thinking and figure out for myself which ideas were feasible and worth developing. Although this strategy requires spending considerable time and energy before making any visible progress, it allowed me to identify the constraints imposed by the available data, understand the incentives faced by different stakeholders and consider what information decision-makers need to act effectively. Learning how to draw upon this framework in order to credibly and reliably inform decision-making within the global agricultural commodity trading market has inspired me to pursue further study and gain new experiences so that I may broaden my exposure while deepening and consolidating my skills and knowledge. I believe that this experience, supplemented by the developmental opportunities and resources offered by The Intern Group, has helped me to clarify my career path, reaffirm my understanding of how the discipline can yield practical insights and realise my own potential in contributing to real-world change.






















