SDPI launches Summer Internship 2026 with record 5,388 applications, selects 150 researchers

ISLAMABAD, Jul 01 (APP): Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) has formally launched the first cohort of its Summer Internship Programme 2026, welcoming 150 interns selected through a highly competitive and merit-based process from a record pool of more than 5,388 applications.

Speaking at the inaugural session, SDPI Senior Advisor Emeritus, Brig. (R) Muhammad Yaseen described the internship as an important milestone for aspiring researchers. He encouraged participants to develop both technical and soft skills, embrace artificial intelligence responsibly and use the six-week programme to gain practical exposure to policy research, stakeholder engagement and evidence-based advocacy.

Uzma Tariq Haroon, Director, SDPI’s Sustainable Development Conference Unit, described the programme a two-way learning opportunity where SDPI also benefits from fresh ideas and perspectives brought by young researchers. She encouraged participants to actively engage in the upcoming 29th Sustainable Development Conference. She said it would provide valuable exposure to conference management, policymaking and interaction with leading national and international experts.

Dr. Sajid Amin Javed, SDPI’s Deputy Executive Director (Research), described the internship as a collaborative learning experience, noting that while universities generate ideas, think tanks convert them into practical policy solutions. He highlighted the fast-paced nature of policy research, where quality analysis is often required within short deadlines to support government decision-making.

Dr. Sajid encouraged the interns to seek learning opportunities independently and develop strong analytical skills by looking beyond the obvious. He also stressed the responsible use of Artificial Intelligence, saying AI should complement rather than replace human intelligence and critical thinking. He advised interns to first develop their own ideas before using AI tools and emphasized that meaningful research requires interpreting data in its broader context rather than relying solely on statistics.

SDPI’s Research Programme and Collaborations Associate, Romila Qamar, said the selection process was transparent, merit-based, inclusive and nationally representative. She said 95.3 per cent of the applications were eligible, while only 2.8 per cent of applicants were selected for the six-week programme, reflecting its highly competitive nature.

She said female applicants constituted 51.3 per cent of the total applications, while male applicants accounted for 48.6 per cent. Applications were also received from more than 40 countries across the Middle East, Gulf region, North America and Europe, demonstrating the programme’s growing international outreach.

She added that the highest number of applications came from Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Karachi and Hyderabad. Students applied in a wide range of thematic areas, including artificial intelligence, climate change, peace and security, gender studies and other public policy disciplines.

She said the selected cohort comprises 150 interns, including 49 per cent MPhil scholars along with a number of PhD, master’s and undergraduate students. Of the selected interns, 54.7 per cent are women and 45.3 per cent are men.

Shahid Minhas of SDPI’s Capacity Building and Leadership Development (CLD) programme said the institute’s core mandate revolves around research, advocacy and capacity building. He noted that this was the first time SDPI had received more than 5,000 internship applications, reflecting its growing reputation among students and academia.

He urged interns to make the most of the learning opportunity, explaining that the internship includes assigned research tasks, structured training sessions and capacity-building activities. He said more than 15,000 professionals have received training through SDPI, adding that although such professional trainings are usually fee-based, the institute’s Executive Director has directed that these programmes also be extended to interns.

Minhas said interns would also participate in co-curricular activities, including Independence Day celebrations, boot camps, poster competitions, speed reading sessions, book and movie reviews. Participation in these activities would carry marks contributing towards the internship certificate, while outstanding performers in poster competitions would receive additional certificates.

Head of SDPI’s Energy Unit, Ubaid ur Rehman Zia, briefed interns on the programme structure, explaining that it comprises three streams: research assignments, technical workshops and non-technical sessions. He said training would include the ethical use of artificial intelligence in policy writing and data analysis.

He informed participants that interns using AI tools in their assignments would be required to disclose the tools, prompts and purpose of their use as references. Stressing quality research, he advised students to ensure their work remains focused on clearly defined problem statements.

Dr. Fareeha Armughan, SDPI’s Research Fellow, congratulated the selected interns and described SDPI as a fast-paced, thriving think tank that offers exceptional opportunities for learning, capacity building and policy discourse. She encouraged participants to make optimal use of their time, noting that they had been meticulously selected through a rigorous process.

She observed that many of SDPI’s mid-level researchers had started their professional journeys as summer interns at the institute, making the programme a valuable platform for career development. She urged interns to match the institute’s culture of dedication and swift working while benefiting from the experience and mentorship of its research and advocacy teams.