Details

The Center for Khmer Studies (CKS) is offering a six-week internship supporting the research of the 2023 Cambodian Junior Fellows, and assisting the CKS Library Team. The student will work to develop ideas for library workshops to expand its digital presence, including exploring open-access websites and recent publications on Southeast Asia for potential inclusion into the CKS Library.

Following decades of civil war and the targeted destruction of its educational resources, Cambodia faced a crisis in the preservation of its literary heritage. In this context, where access to books was almost non-existent and public libraries were only available to the average Cambodian in Phnom Penh, CKS began to build a library collection specializing in Cambodian and Southeast Asian history and culture. 

Since opening in 2001, the CKS Library collection has grown from a few hundred to over 19,000 titles. With a very modest budget, the CKS Library owes its development to the dynamism of its Cambodian team and the generosity of individual donors. Situated within Wat Damnak, a thriving Buddhist monastery in the heart of Siem Reap, the CKS Library is the largest academic library in Cambodia outside of the capital and the second most important for the social sciences and humanities throughout the country.

The collection, managed by two CKS-trained Cambodian librarians, serves as an invaluable resource for scholars and researchers from Cambodia and overseas, local students, monks, and the general public. The library is open to all, free of charge, from Monday through Saturday. The majority of Cambodian visitors are high school teachers and students, researchers, Buddhist monks, and professional tour guides. Young Cambodians drop by daily to read alongside international scholars and researchers.

With guidance from CKS Library staff, the student will:

• Develop ideas for library workshop under the theme of Digital Library Development form Cambodian libraries    
• Develop activities for the CKS Children's Library
• Work with the CKS Rare Books Collection

The internship will run from approximately July 3 to August 11, 2023. The precise dates may be flexible after a discussion between the student and the CKS Library, and will likely overlap with Cambodia's national election on July 23.

Student Requirements

The student should have a strong interest in research and report writing. Knowledge of Cambodia is a plus, as is an interest in library work.  

Internship Eligibility

• Must be a rising sophomore, a rising junior, or a rising senior at Cornell University.
• Must be in good standing academically and have no unresolved disciplinary charges or sanctions.
• Must have completed at least a year of coursework with a cumulative 3.0 GPA or higher.
• Must be enrolled in an undergraduate degree program at the time of the internship (e.g., not on LOA).

Timeline

Priority Deadline: January 15, 2023 - 11:55 P.M (ET)

Secondary (and final) Deadline: February 28, 2023 - 11:55 P.M (ET)     

Requirements

• Students must commit to the duration of the internship. Most are 6 weeks – 30-35 hours per week over the summer (6-7 hours per day, 5 days per week); some internships are 8 weeks. 

• Full participation in pre-departure and post-experience sessions.

• Completion of required reflections and evaluations.

• Applicants shortlisted for interviews will be asked about competing commitments over the summer.

Stipend

• All Einaudi Center summer interns receive an award totaling at least $3,000 for airfare, transportation, and living expenses. A portion of the stipend may be paid directly to the in-country host to support housing, food, and local transportation.

View the full list of Einaudi Global Summer Internships offered this year.