Kosovo National Park: Professional, Academic, and Cultural Experience included!

Join Isla for a truly immersive and “all inclusive” international experience! Our team pairs you with a local NGO in your field of interest, supports you every step of the way, secures housing, insurance, etc., connects you with professional, social, and cultural opportunities, and collaborates with your university to ensure all academic requirements are met! 

Intern with a conservation initiative addressing critical ecological challenges in Sharri National Park. Please note, applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Internships can take place during the school year or summer break. Internships last for 6+ weeks. You will get a chance to specify when you would like to start your internship.

Sharri National Park, a 534-square-kilometer protected area in southern Kosovo, is the country’s first ever declared national park and functions as a directorate under the Agency for Environmental Protection. Stretching across Kosovo, North Macedonia, and Albania, the park provides a crucial habitat for endangered species like the Balkan lynx, with only 20-40 individuals remaining worldwide. Despite its ecological importance, the park faces severe understaffing, leaving key conservation efforts in need of support in a wide range of fields such as communications, marketing, geography, forestry, tourism, agriculture, and more!

Interns with the Sharri National Park can contribute to essential environmental projects, including wildlife monitoring, GIS mapping, and sustainable land/resource management as well as key projects dealing with community outreach and engagement. 

Given the park’s limited resources, interns will play an active role in addressing urgent conservation challenges while gaining hands-on experience in sustainable development. Whether working on endangered species protection, forest management, or tourism planning, this internship provides a unique opportunity to make a lasting impact on one of Europe’s most ecologically significant landscapes! 

Isla will work closely with your university to locate funding and answer all questions. The following is included within the program so that you can focus primarily on the work at hand and be supported each step of the way! 

• Pre-departure preparations (packing list, language modules, cultural guidance, etc)
• Quality Internship Placement with a customized scope of work
• Airport pickup and in-country orientation
• Welcome lunch/dinner
• Housing, internet, and fully stocked kitchen
• Groceries
• Travel, medical, and emergency evacuation insurance
• Local SIM Card/phone plan (optional)
• Monthly Bus Passes/Transportation (optional)
• Local Language classes (optional)
• Tuition to study at the national university for 4 ECTS/3 US credits (Kosovo- optional)
• Mentorship from local professionals
• 24/7 support from Isla team
• Bi-weekly internship and cultural experience reflection sessions
• Scheduled team lunches/dinners with all interns/Isla team with relevant professionals/stakeholders
• Support in organizing and planning travel/in-country social activities
• Cultural/social activities as available
• Certificate of completion and letter of references upon completion of internship
• Continued mentorship post completion of internship (according to field of interest)
• Additional support depending on country of internship and academic requirements

Depending on the intern's skills and interests, they will be assigned to one or more of the following projects focused on environmental conservation and biodiversity in Sharri National Park in Kosovo:

• Wildlife Monitoring and Endangered Species Protection
• GIS Mapping and Environmental Data Analysis
• Sustainable Land and Forest Management
• Ecotourism Development and Visitor Engagement
• Public Awareness and Environmental Education
• Communications and Marketing
• Sustainable Tourism
• Agriculture & Permaculture
• Habitat Management and Protection
• Advocacy & Policy Analysis

The Ideal Candidate

Isla seeks interns who are passionate about conserving biodiversity, supporting critical ecological research, and increasing public awareness of environmental challenges in Sharri National Park.

This internship provides a wonderful opportunity to earn academic credit to meet practicum, research, or capstone project requirements towards your degree. Or if you choose to intern abroad simply to gain international work experience in this unique global community, that is more than doable, too!
 

Skills & Abilities

• University undergraduate or graduate students, and young professionals with backgrounds in environmental science, ecology, geography, forestry, conservation biology, sustainable development, or related fields.
• Strong interest in biodiversity conservation, ecological research, and sustainable land management.
• Ability to work independently and take initiative in both field and office settings, addressing critical conservation challenges.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with a proactive approach to learning and collaboration.
• Adaptability to work in a resource-limited environment, understanding the ecological and logistical challenges of conservation in Sharri National Park.
• Willingness to engage in community-based projects, public awareness campaigns, and environmental education initiatives.

All Isla internships are customized to your particular academic interests and skill set. Please note, if you are a university undergrad or grad student, it is your responsibility to check with your institution and with Isla Internships Abroad to be sure that your internship Scope of Work is designed to meet all requirements for your particular academic needs. 

The Isla Team is available to guide you through the process even before you accept your Isla internship position. Most of the work in developing your placement is conducted way before your arrival in-country!

Hear from 2024 Isla Alumni: “I would describe it as a unique and rewarding experience for anyone interested in exploring the world and helping people. My time in Kosovo was one that I'll never forget, as the knowledge I gained and the people I met will both have special places in my heart.”

“The internship experience was one that will open your worldview and expose you to new challenges that you will only experience interning abroad. Interning through Isla will develop not only memories, but skills that will transfer into the workforce.”

“I would describe this experience as a once in a lifetime opportunity. It was very rewarding and it really shows what you can do by yourself in another country. It is something that I think everyone should do.”

Please note: A $90 application fee is required to process your application.

Apply here. Contact The Isla Team for more information at info@isla-serve.org! Live Learn Intern