USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) and Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service (CSREES) work together to implement International Agricultural Internship Program (IAIP). Since 2000, the program has provided participants with an excellent opportunity to learn about issues, programs and activities related to international agricultural trade by working in one of the 90 FAS overseas offices, located in or close to U.S. Embassies or Consulates. It also gives the student a broader view of U.S. interests through FAS interaction with the other USDA agencies and the three other U.S. Foreign Service agencies: the Department of Defense, State Department and Department of Commerce.

At the same time, the program allows FAS supervisors to appraise firsthand the student’s potential for USDA employment. Previous participants have successfully competed for economic and marketing series positions in the Career Internship Program (CIP) in FAS. The experience is also invaluable for students seeking agricultural trade-related jobs with other agencies, associations and the private sector.

The name was changed from FAS International Internship Program (IIP) to FAS International Agricultural Internship Program (IAIP) in September 2005 to emphasize the agricultural nature of the internship.

The objectives of the program are to

• Provide an international agricultural trade experience to college students that will assist them in making career choices and will provide valuable work experience;
   

• Provide outreach to college and university campuses on FAS’ role in international agricultural trade;
   

• Encourage students to consider a career in FAS; and
   

• Assist FAS and CSREES in achieving their mission goals.

The Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) represents the diverse interests of U.S. agriculture abroad. FAS administers programs designed to build new markets and improve the competitive position of U.S. agriculture in the global marketplace, and to improve food security worldwide. FAS activities focus on market development, market intelligence, export financing, market access and trade policy, and food assistance and technical assistance. For more information, visit the FAS Web site.

The mission of the Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service (CSREES) is to achieve significant and equitable improvements in domestic and global economic environmental, and social conditions by advancing creative and integrated research, education, and extension programs in the food, agriculture, and related sciences in partnership with both the public and private sectors. CSREES works closely with the U.S. higher education system, including the Land-Grant institutions, to promote internationalization of campus-based programming in the food and agricultural sciences. For more information, visit the CSREES Web site.