ASB South and South-East Asia (ASB S-SEA) welcomes students who want practical, real-world experience in inclusive humanitarian and development work across South and South-East Asia. This page explains how our internships work — the two pathways available, who can apply, what to prepare, and the steps we follow together to design a placement that works for you and for us.
Minimum duration
2 months, to allow time for induction and adaptation
Who can apply
Diploma, Bachelor's (S1), Master's (S2) and Doctoral (S3) students, for academic requirements only
Two pathways
Independent internship (anytime) or open vacancy (specific periods)
How to apply
Overview
What an internship at ASB S-SEA looks like
ASB S-SEA works on disability-inclusive disaster risk reduction, climate action, socio-economic development and humanitarian response across South and South-East Asia. Where interns are placed depends on their proposal and on the availability of resources within ASB S-SEA at the time — it could be anything from communications and knowledge management to program implementation in the field.
There are two ways to intern with ASB S-SEA: an independent internship that you propose yourself, or an open internship vacancy that ASB S-SEA announces for a specific position. The sections below walk through both, plus what to prepare and how the process works.
Two Pathways
Independent internship or open internship vacancy
Both pathways lead to the same kind of experience, but they work differently and are aimed at different situations. Here is how they compare:
| Aspect | Independent internship | Open internship vacancy |
|---|---|---|
| Who initiates it | Proposed by the student who wants to intern | Opened by ASB S-SEA |
| When you can apply | Any time | Only while a vacancy is open — there's no fixed schedule, so check the listing periodically |
| Positions available | Shaped around the student's proposed objective and ASB S-SEA's scope of work | Specific positions, based on ASB S-SEA's needs at the time |
| Who it's for | Students at any academic level — Diploma, Bachelor's (S1), Master's (S2), Doctoral (S3) | As specified in the vacancy announcement |
| Purpose | Academic requirements only — we do not open independent internships for non-academic purposes | Organizational need for the announced position |
Where vacancies are posted
Open internship vacancies are published on ASB S-SEA's official Join Us page. There's no fixed schedule for when a new one opens, so check the page periodically if you're waiting for a specific position.
Good to know
If ASB S-SEA doesn't currently have an open vacancy that matches what you're looking for, you're welcome to apply through the independent internship pathway instead — as long as it is for an academic requirement (such as a required practicum, internship credit, or thesis-related placement).
Before You Apply
Documents you need to prepare
This list applies to independent (academic) internship applications. To apply, please prepare the following three documents:
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Document 1
Cover letter from your institution
An official letter from your university or campus introducing you and confirming that the internship supports your academic program.
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Document 2
CV or resume
Your academic background, relevant skills, and any prior experience related to the internship you're seeking.
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Document 3
Internship proposal
A short proposal explaining your objective for interning at ASB S-SEA and the contribution you hope to make during your placement.
Tip
A clear, specific proposal helps us match you with the right team and supervisor. The more concrete your goals, the easier it is for us to design a placement that genuinely fits what you want to learn.
Applying for an open vacancy instead?
If you're applying for an internship position ASB S-SEA has posted as an open vacancy, follow the document requirements listed in that specific vacancy announcement instead of the list above.
Duration
Minimum internship period: two months
ASB S-SEA requires a minimum internship duration of two months. Every intern goes through an induction period and needs time to settle into the team, our systems, and the programs they'll be supporting — a placement shorter than this doesn't leave enough room for that adjustment, or for the intern to take on meaningful work.
Why two months
Two months gives enough time for induction and adaptation at the start, followed by a real stretch of contribution — so the internship is worthwhile for both the intern and ASB S-SEA.
How to Apply
The application process, step by step
Once your documents are ready, here is what happens from submission to confirmation:
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Submit your application
Send your complete documents — cover letter, CV/resume and proposal — by email to contact@asbindonesia.org, with roslidia@asbindonesia.org in cc.
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Document review
ASB S-SEA reviews your documents to check whether your internship objective fits within ASB S-SEA's scope of work.
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Supervisor matching
We check whether a supervisor is available who can guide you and whose work aligns with your internship objective.
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Terms of Reference (ToR) development
ASB S-SEA develops a Terms of Reference together with your prospective supervisor, so you have a clear picture of the planned internship activities.
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ToR review with you
You review the draft ToR and let us know if anything needs adjusting, so it truly reflects your internship objectives before you begin.
Contact
Ready to apply?
Send your cover letter, CV/resume and proposal to the addresses below to get started.
