The University of Westminster recently held an information session for undergraduate and postgraduate students to find out about the University’s United Nations (UN) Internships programme and discover how to secure placements with the UN Migration Agency, also known as the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
Thanks to an institutional agreement between the University and the IOM, students can apply for exclusive internship opportunities at IOM offices around the world. The internships run for six to nine months and are funded by the University, the Quintin Hogg Trust and donors such as Westminster alumnus Ken Subraj.
This year the programme enters its fifth year. Since its inception, the initiative has seen students from a variety of courses, ranging from International Relations and Law to Biological Sciences, successfully completing these internships, with many securing full-time employment at the IOM following the completion of their internships.
To reflect Westminster students’ growing interest in international careers, a series of workshops were held during 5-7 November 2025 on Regent Street Campus to provide insights into and explore careers and internships at international organisations and NGOs. An exclusive information session led by by Michael Emery, Director of Human Resources at IOM with over 30 years of experience in human resources management across the UN, and Dr Sahar Taghdisi Rad, Employability Director (Social Sciences), was dedicated to the IOM-Westminster internship programme, application process, funding and logistics. A number of former and current Westminster IOM interns also joined the session to share their experiences with the audience.
A second session led by Michael Emery offered unique insights into careers at international organisations and UN agencies, while also providing practical information about preparing for competency-based interviews. Students also had the chance to put these skills to the test with a series of mock interviews conducted by Michael Emery. Students also took part in a group activity, exercising their interview skills using the guidance provided during the session.
Another workshop led by Impactpool, a global platform dedicated to jobs within the ‘impact sector’, explored different internships and graduate careers with global organisations and international NGOs. The session provided students with information about a variety of entry points and career paths at international organisations, multilaterals and NGOs.
The University has a rich history of collaborating with organisations, charities, social enterprises and community groups to provide opportunities to students. Through Zone29, Westminster’s new home for careers and enterprise, the University is set to build on this work further by helping individuals increase their confidence in enterprise, digital and green skills.
Applications for the 2026 UN-IOM internships will open in early 2026. Dr Sahar Taghdisi Rad, Senior Lecturer in the School of Social Sciences, said: “Thanks to our partnership with the IOM since 2022, our students have benefited from annual workshops with Michael Emery, a leading figure in talent management and recruitment at the United Nations. These popular sessions provide students unique insight into international development careers, outline the University’s highly sought-after internship programme with UN-IOM and provide practical guidance on interviews and applications. These workshops further enrich our collaboration, enhance students’ experiential learning and support our commitment to meaningful partnerships.”
Politics and International Relations BA Honours student Maisie Sheffield said: “The workshops with Michael were incredibly valuable, helping me to think critically about my own soft skills, values and their alignment with UN competencies. I left feeling inspired and more confident in my skills, and I've already applied the methods we practiced to a recent interview. The workshops were a unique opportunity to learn from Michael’s vast life experience, with not only the UN but as an experienced interviewer/interviewee. I'd absolutely encourage other students to attend these workshops next year and I'm very thankful to Michael for taking the time to visit us and share his insights.”
The information session and the partnership directly contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 4: Quality Education, 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth and 17: Partnerships for the Goals. Since 2019, the University of Westminster has used the SDGs holistically to frame strategic decisions to help students and colleagues fulfil their potential and contribute to a more sustainable, equitable and healthier society.
Read more about the experiences of the University’s 2025 student interns.
For further information on the International Organization for Migration internships, contact Dr Sahar Taghdisi Rad.
To see how you or your company can support students, contact the Development Team.
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