The McCourt School of Public Policy’s Master of International Development Policy (MIDP) Summer Experience program sends first-year students around the world to apply their analytical skills and gain hands-on experience with top international development organizations, learning directly from development policy researchers and experts.

By covering travel costs and providing a living stipend, the McCourt School empowers students to design summer placements that align with their specific interests. This year, 37 MIDP students secured opportunities, many of which are outside the United States.

Martin Barros (MIDP’26), Ghana

Martin Barros (MIDP’26) has two placements this summer: the International Growth Center (IGC), a global research center with a presence in Accra, Ghana, and the World Bank’s Office of the Chief Economist for South Asia (SARCE) in Washington, DC. At the IGC, Barros is conducting fiscal and data analysis on one of Ghana’s flagship policies — the Free Senior High School (FSHS) initiative, which provides tuition-free secondary education in public schools, including boarding schools. He is also working on a randomized evaluation of a digital job-matching platform, conducting an econometric analysis of baseline and endline survey data to better understand labor market behavior. At SARCE, Barros contributed to a literature review on the effects of trade policy on labor market outcomes, including wages, employment and productivity.

“My time in Ghana has been incredibly inspiring. I’ve been fortunate to experience the vibrancy of Accra at a moment when the country is undergoing rapid changes. It’s been an ideal setting to explore bold institutional reforms, particularly in education and the labor market. Being part of the IGC, albeit briefly, has been a truly rewarding experience. For anyone passionate about combining rigorous economic research with real-world impact, I can’t imagine a more energizing environment.”

– Martin Barros (MIDP’26)

Apiwan Duangphummet (MIDP’26), Morocco and Vietnam

Apiwan Duangphummet (MIDP’26) is working in Rabat, Morocco, contributing to an impact evaluation for a flagship education reform program that has been implemented across 248 public primary schools in 12 regions of Morocco. Duangphummet will also head to Vietnam, where she will be contributing to research on student academic outcomes, higher-order cognitive skills and non-cognitive skills at the Mekong Development Research Institute in Hanoi.

“This summer placement has been both intense and incredibly rewarding. I’ve gained not only technical skills, but also a deeper appreciation for how evidence-based policymaking, rigorous impact evaluation and close collaboration between policymakers, international development partners and research institutions can improve lives. Most importantly, engaging with local leaders who are working to shape the future of their country has been a real blessing. Their energy and optimism are truly contagious.”

– Apiwan Duangphummet (MIDP’26)

Doris Luo (MIDP’26), Bangladesh

Doris Luo (MIDP’26) has been gaining experience as a summer research assistant at the Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC) Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD) in Bangladesh, working on a randomized controlled trial. Her work focuses on evaluating an edutainment intervention aimed at reducing intimate partner violence. Luo has been refining survey instruments and protocols, preparing pilot materials and coordinating fieldwork with local implementation teams. This experience has provided her with a hands-on opportunity to navigate the practical complexities of data collection and implementation, particularly concerning the sensitive topic of gender-based violence.

“The balance of autonomy and continuous guidance I’ve received from my principal investigators (PI) has been both empowering and transformative in shaping how I think about applied research and collaborative work in development contexts.”

– Doris Luo (MIDP’26)

Aasna Sijapati (MIDP’26), Kenya

Aasna Sijapati (MIDP’26) is working with Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA), a global research and policy nonprofit with an office in Nairobi, Kenya. In addition to field work, Sijapati is involved in data analysis and survey building, along with conducting literature reviews for the organization’s donor proposals.

“I am having a wonderful time in Nairobi. The IPA Kenya team is very welcoming and supportive, which has added so much value to my experience here. It’s such a lively city, and having some of my MIDP peers here has made exploring the city and the country much easier. I travelled to Mombasa with Matilde Coelho da Silva (MIDP’26), which has been one of the highlights of my summer. My family was also able to visit me from Nepal, which was an amazing experience. We got to see lions and giraffes for the first time on a surreal safari in Masai Mara!”

– Aasna Sijapati (MIDP’26)

Alvis Yang (MIDP’26), Philippines

In Manila, Philippines, Alvis Yang (MIDP’26) is interning with IDInsight, a mission-driven global advisory, data analytics and research organization that helps development leaders maximize social impact. Yang is supporting two projects: a partnership with the Second Congressional Commission on Education and the Philippine Department of Education to improve early identification and support for young learners with disabilities, and an impact evaluation of an Indonesian agriculture project that focuses on enhancing the productivity of smallholder aquaculture farmers through private sector engagement. This experience has provided him with hands-on experience in the complexities of the data collection pipeline, from design to analysis.

“The Southeast Asia office has an amazing culture, and it is no wonder that Hannah Reynolds (MIDP’25) enjoyed her experience here last year. Everyone has been welcoming, and this has been a remarkable summer. They have provided me with a space to ask questions and learn by doing — even if that means making mistakes. I’m grateful for all the mentors I’ve met here, and it has been a delight to learn more about Filipino culture, especially the cuisine.”

– Alvis Yang (MIDP’26)