For students pursuing a Master of International Affairs (MIA), offered jointly by the top-ranked O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs and the Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies, hands-on international experience is essential in preparing for careers in global policy, diplomacy, and development. Through the Armenia Capstone Program, participating MIA students have the chance to step beyond the classroom and engage in meaningful, high-impact work on an international stage.
During the trip, students collaborated with the UNDP Armenia SDG Innovation Lab, in the framework of the project “Democratic Institutions and Participatory Policies in Armenia” financed by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation. They met with UN officials, OGP Coordinator and Participatory Governance focal point from the Prime Minister’s Office, which is the key national stakeholder of the project, two parliamentarians, and young policymakers (ages 13-29) while also immersing themselves in Armenia’s rich cultural and historical landscape.
This collaboration was made possible by UNDP Armenia SDG Innovation Lab and O’Neill MIA’23 alum Syuzanna Martirosyan, now a project analyst in behavior change, who played a key role in bringing the initiative to life, under the guidance of Nayiri Shorjian who coordinates Innovative and Participatory Policymaking projects at UNDP Armenia SDG Innovation Lab.
“As a Fulbright scholar at O’Neill, this initiative holds profound significance for me—not only as an opportunity to give back to IU but also as a bridge connecting my school with Armenia, fostering knowledge exchange and cross-cultural dialogue,” Martirosyan said.
Oluwanifemi Adekoya, an MIA student in the most recent Armenia Capstone cohort, found that the experience challenged her assumptions about policymaking, tested her adaptability, and expanded her professional network in international affairs.
“I thought it would be amazing to be able to apply a lot of what I’ve been learning over the past two years into an international-style program. I hope to work internationally, and this was the perfect opportunity to build that real-world experience,” Adekoya said.
A hands-on approach to policy change
The Armenia Capstone Program, led by Associate Professor Jennifer Brass, is designed to expose students to real-world policy implementation in a global setting. The project focuses on shifting Armenia’s policymaking from a top-down to a bottom-up approach, ensuring that policies are informed by local perspectives and citizen engagement.
For Adekoya, this was an opportunity to apply classroom knowledge to a live policy challenge. The student team worked on gathering baseline data, conducting pre- and post-surveys, and engaging with Armenian government officials to assess how citizen participation can strengthen governance.
“We were the beginning, baseline evaluation of a very long project. It’s a 10-year initiative involving the Armenian Prime Minister’s Office and the United Nations Development Program, and we came in at a crucial time, helping to establish the foundation for future policy assessments,” Adekoya said.
Martirosyan, who played a mentorship role in the capstone, found working with the students deeply fulfilling.
“I was particularly gratified to work with the students, guiding them and inspiring them to pursue careers they truly desire—just as I stood in their shoes merely a year ago, navigating similar decisions and aspirations,” Martirosyan said.
Navigating global work
One of the biggest takeaways from the program was learning to navigate the complexities of international policy work—including bureaucratic processes, shifting deadlines, and cultural differences. Flexibility was key to being successful in global development.
“From the beginning, it felt like we were starting on a solid foundation, but every other week, something new was thrown at us. That experience of working with real-world organizations, facing unexpected challenges, and still pushing forward is something you just can’t learn from a textbook,” Adekoya said.
Adekoya emphasized how adapting to a dynamic policy environment was one of the most valuable lessons of the experience. While the program provided a strong foundation, the hands-on work with international organizations illustrated real-world policymaking in motion, revealing how agility and problem-solving are essential.
“You could lose funding, your donor could drop out, or you might need to go through a million extra steps just to get to where you want to go. Watching the professionals at the UNDP Innovation Lab handle these challenges with such grace taught me so much about what it takes to work in this field,” Adekoya said.
For Martirosyan, seeing the project move from an ambitious idea to reality was a defining experience.
“When I first conceived this idea and pitched it to our lab lead and professor Jennifer Brass, it felt almost unbelievable and aspirational—its realization seemed uncertain. Yet, in retrospect, witnessing it come to fruition has been one of the defining highlights of my time at the UNDP SDG Innovation Lab,” Martirosyan said.
Building professional connections
Beyond the hands-on policy work, the Armenia Capstone Program provided unparalleled networking opportunities with major international organizations and government leaders. One of the standout experiences was meeting Armenia’s Youth Parliament, where high school and college students actively participate in policymaking.
“We got to sit in a room with members of the Youth Parliament, who were talking directly with members of Armenia’s government. It was amazing to see how young people were engaging with real policy decisions—something I had never seen before,” Adekoya said.
Martirosyan, who served as a cultural and professional bridge between the students and Armenia, highlighted the importance of global exposure in shaping future policymakers.
“It is quite possible that many of the capstone students had never encountered Armenia before, and I was delighted that they not only traveled there but also gained firsthand insights into our culture, governance systems, and policy landscape,” Martirosyan said.
In addition to government officials, the students also connected with leaders at the UNDP, the Prime Minister’s liaison, and other influential figures in international policy.
“I can’t imagine another experience where I would have had the chance to sit in meetings with top UNDP leaders and actually contribute to a policy initiative at the national level,” Adekoya said.
For MIA students like Adekoya, programs like this aren’t just an addition to their academic experience—they are a launchpad for impactful international careers.
“I’ve always wanted to work in international development, and this experience gave me a clear picture of what that actually looks like,” Adekoya said. “It confirmed that I’m on the right path.”
Global opportunities available to O’Neill students
The Armenia Capstone Program exemplifies the kind of immersive, real-world experiences that make the program so valuable. It provides students with:
- Exposure to international policymaking and development challenges
- Hands-on experience in data collection, analysis, and policy evaluation
- Opportunities to engage with high-level government officials and international organizations
- Real-time problem-solving skills in a dynamic, cross-cultural environment
If you’re interested in joining our MIA program, learn more here. Our fall application deadline is May 1.
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