As an intern you can expect to improve your network in regional and national administrations active in the cooperation as well as in international organizations involved in or related to the Barents Cooperation. Since the Barents member nations and regions cooperate in a number of fields, the internship provides opportunities to follow the developments in fields of your interest or expertise. Serving as an intern at the International Barents Secretariat you will also have a great opportunity to improve your language skills and to contribute to the communication and information schemes of the Secretariat.

The ambition of the Secretariat is to - in the best possible way - match candidates and assignments depending on individual background, interest and the daily businesses of the secretariat. However, assignments are likely to be of both analytical and administrative nature. The Secretariat guarantees you will be properly and sufficiently supervised.

The Secretariat welcomes applications no later than April 1st for the spring period and June 15th for the fall period. The Secretariat accepts one candidate each period. Applications should include a personal motivation letter and a CV. The Secretariat normally recommends an internship period of approximately 3 months.

But: Please observe that this year (2011) the secretariat will accept interns as follows; for a period up to 5 weeks during spring (between May 30th and July 3rd), and for a period of approximately 3 months in the fall.

Basic requirements:
• Interest in the Barents Region
• Enjoy being part of a team in an international environment
• Good command of spoken and written English as it is the working language at the Secretariat.
• Fluency in at least one of the languages spoken in the Barents Region (Russian, Finnish, Norwegian, Swedish, Saami or other Barents indigenous languages).
• Students should have finished a minimum of two years of university studies.

The Secretariat provides assigned accommodation of a maximum of 3 months and will reimburse one roundtrip ticket from permanent home address to Kirkenes and from Kirkenes provided the point of departure is in any of the Nordic Countries or Russia. Travel costs due to a possible interview prior to taking up the position will also be reimbursed.

Please send applications to:

The International Barents Secretariat
P.O. Box 107,
9915 Kirkenes, Norway
or ibs@beac.st