From Blantyre, Malawi to the IEDP: Juston Vizyalona’s Journey in International Educational Development

This week, I am excited to introduce you to my friend and IEDP student, Juston Vizyalona. Originally from the city of Blantyre in Southern Malawi, Juston brings over a decade of experience in international educational development and most recently, joined the IEDP this year on a prestigious scholarship. Throughout the fall semester, I have learned so much from Juston and hope you do too through … Continue reading From Blantyre, Malawi to the IEDP: Juston Vizyalona’s Journey in International Educational Development

Interested in Early Childhood Education? Learn More About the ECEFS Academic Certificate From IEDP Student, Shelly Lee

In this blog article, you will hear from IEDP second year student, Shelly Lee who shares about her experience pursuing the Early Childhood Education and Family Studies (ECEFS) Academic Certificate. This program prepares students to work in the early childhood education sector through providing a focused curriculum and hands-on experience. IEDP students pursuing the ECEFS Academic Certificate have been able to smoothly integrate the certificate’s … Continue reading Interested in Early Childhood Education? Learn More About the ECEFS Academic Certificate From IEDP Student, Shelly Lee

Internship Insight – Shi

Shi interned at UNESCO Paris, gaining firsthand experience in global policymaking and international cooperation. In this blog, she shares her insights into working at the heart of an international institution, the lessons she learned, and what it’s like to live and work in the City of Love. Paris was sunny in June. I was mingling with the mass of tourists who had come to the … Continue reading Internship Insight – Shi

Alumni in Focus – IEDP

IEDP alums are out in the world making things happen – shaping policy, leading programs, and driving change. Check out our Alumni in Focus series to see where their journeys have taken them! Micaela Wensjoe (2015) When I finished the program, almost 10 years ago, I went back home to Peru to work in education policy. Right after the program, I joined a team working on … Continue reading Alumni in Focus – IEDP

Internship Insights – Sub-Saharan Africa 2

For more insight into recent internships, I spoke with Joy, Bin, Sveta, and Chippie, who all interned in Sub-Saharan Africa. Join them as they share their unique experiences beyond the United States in this blog and the next. Bin – UNESCO IIEP, Dakar, Senegal In the fall semester of 2024, I went to Senegal for an internship at UNESCO IIEP. Having already lived in Senegal … Continue reading Internship Insights – Sub-Saharan Africa 2

Meet Sara – UNESCO Fellow ’24

For this blog, I sat down with Sara, one of our two UNESCO Fellows for the 2024/25 cohort, alongside Nene. Originally from Palestine, Sara brings a wealth of experience from her diverse educational and professional background. As a friend and fellow student, I’ve learned a lot from our conversations over the past semester and am grateful for the eye-opening exchanges we’ve had, which even this … Continue reading Meet Sara – UNESCO Fellow ’24

Spotlight on our Faculty – Dr. Amrit Thapa

In this interview, Dr. Thapa shares his journey to the IEDP, the experiences that shaped his career, and his unique research interests. Read on to learn more! How and why did you join IEDP? After earning my PhD, I became a Research Director at the National School Climate Center in New York. I took leading roles in evaluating school climate projects and developing instruments on … Continue reading Spotlight on our Faculty – Dr. Amrit Thapa

Spotlight on our Faculty – Dr. Tyler Hook

Can you tell us a little about your experience in IEDP and what you did after? Before joining IEDP, I earned a master’s at the University of Edinburgh  in a program focused on Africa and international development. My research there emphasized neoliberalism and education in sub-Saharan Africa. After graduating, I joined the Peace Corps, working as a teacher trainer and high school English teacher in … Continue reading Spotlight on our Faculty – Dr. Tyler Hook

Malawi Fellow Chipiliro Kasiyamphanje on his Journey to the IEDP & Reflections on his First Semester

For this feature, Chippie wanted to focus on the set of conditions, considerations, and aspirations that ultimately led him to apply to and enroll in the IEDP. Chippie is from Malawi, a place he always reminds us is famously known as the Warm Heart of Africa. His roots are in Blantyre, in the Southern region of the country, where he conducted most of his studies. … Continue reading Malawi Fellow Chipiliro Kasiyamphanje on his Journey to the IEDP & Reflections on his First Semester

UNESCO Fellow Rima on Research Opportunities at Penn, TikTok and Dumpster Greenhouses

For this month’s student spotlight, I sat with Rima, our second IEDP UNESCO ‘23/’24 fellow and first-year master’s student from Syria whose interdisciplinary interests in psychology and education have brought her to the IEDP. Rima is laser-focused on pursuing a career in Clinical Psychology in order to offer mental health and special education support to underprivileged and underrepresented communities, including Syrian refugee populations. While we’re … Continue reading UNESCO Fellow Rima on Research Opportunities at Penn, TikTok and Dumpster Greenhouses