Marketing student awarded United Nations internship in Switzerland

A University of Louisiana at Lafayette senior is among 20 students from around the world who have received internships with the Joint Inspection Unit of the United Nations in Geneva for spring 2016.

From January to May, Beatriz Barletta, 22, will work as a research assistant for a team, composed of an evaluation officer and inspection officer, during one or two of the JIU’s reviews. The JIU is an independent, external oversight body of the United Nations system.

A native of San Pedro Sula, Honduras, Barletta is majoring in marketing at the B.I. Moody III College of Business Administration. After earning her degree, she plans to work as a marketing research analyst or a marketing consultant.

She said she wanted to pursue an internship with a company that deals with global affairs.

“I started searching around and came up with the idea of applying to the UN. I had never even considered being chosen among so many applicants from around the world, but I decided to give it a try and it worked out, ” she said.

Barletta recommends that all students who are interested in international business or world affairs should consider an internship with a global organization.

“I look forward to understanding the working culture of an international organization, learning about the UN system, acquiring better insight into worldwide issues and discovering Switzerland and the surrounding countries,” she said. “I also look forward to engaging with the other interns from around the world.”