Marine Institute Launched International Internship Pilot
The Marine Institute piloted an internship initiative with St George's University during the summer of 2026.
Updated on Oct. 7, 2026 in Internships
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In summer 2026, the Marine Institute piloted a new international internship programme in partnership with St George's University in Grenada. The initiative supported two undergraduate students as they conducted research into sargassum seaweed commercialisation and coastal pollution.
Why it matters
The programme aims to help Small Island Developing States advance their blue economies and improve environmental resilience. This initiative connects international academic research with global policy goals to support sustainable development in island nations.
The initiative supported two undergraduate students and has facilitated four Master's scholarships under the Our Shared Ocean programme. The broader effort has invested €4.1 million into ocean-related partnerships since 2022.
The players
Marine Institute
This Irish state agency is responsible for marine research, technology development, and innovation.
St George's University
This university is an international institution of higher learning based in Grenada.
Kimberly Ince
She is an undergraduate student who participated in the inaugural internship pilot programme.
Kavita Douglas
She is an undergraduate student who researched coastal pollution mitigation as part of the internship.
The details
Undergraduate students Kimberly Ince and Kavita Douglas were co-supervised remotely by experts from both the Marine Institute and St George's University. The students ultimately travelled to Ireland in summer 2026 to present their findings on governance frameworks and pollution mitigation during the Marine Institute's annual Bursar Week.
Timeline
The Our Shared Ocean programme began investing in partnerships in 2022.
The Marine Institute piloted the internship programme in 2026.
Students completed remote supervision and travelled to Ireland in summer 2026.
Market Landscape
The internship pilot aligns with the Our Shared Ocean programme, which serves as the primary funding mechanism for these international maritime partnerships. This expansion positions the Marine Institute as a key coordinator in bridging research gaps for developing oceanic economies.
While this pilot is currently limited to specific university partners, the programme demonstrates a growing pathway for international student researchers to access European research facilities. Future iterations could impact university-level career recruitment and international research collaboration opportunities.
The takeaway
This pilot demonstrates the importance of remote supervision models in connecting students from island nations to global research institutions. Future participants can look for similar cross-institutional collaborations as these types of academic programs continue to scale.
What happens next
The programme model is expected to expand in future years to provide internship opportunities to additional undergraduate students.
Further reading
For more on professional development programs, visit our Internships section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Ireland Afloat.
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