My name is Charles Li. I am currently a student at University of Manchester studying BA Econ Economic & Finance. I joined the Green Economic Institute as an intern since June 2009 and have achieved enormously just within a month. At the time i was searching for an internship i was struggling to find one which provokes my creativity and academically challenging. Then one day i suddenly came across with the Green economic Institute, and i immediately feel i have found the right internship.

I am based in Cardiff and the office is in Reading. Due to the high travelling expenses, i mainly carry out my internship via home based work. This also provided me with an opportunity to work on challenging tasks independently. I have a regular meeting to attend at Reading Office with Miriam to keep track of my current work progress.

In my first meeting, I was very surprised that Miriam asked what i would like to achieve from the internship. My view on an internship was simply to show competency in handling tasks well and more importantly, to help the organisation achieve its own targets. While this might be true in majority of commercial organisation but the GEI is different, it is without restraint meaning the potential of achievement from this internship is limitless. Miriam has also stated that an internship with the institute is reciprocal; it is not solely what the institute wants you to do but it will also aims to help you with what you would like to achieve. More importantly, the internship provides you with lifelong benefits not only you will gain a wide variety of contacts from different areas of top professions; you will also get continual supports with your career from the institute in the future.

The type of work available with the institute is so wide ranging that there must be something for everyone. My work includes journal reviews, assist in publishing a book on green accounting, presentation on green accounting at the annual conference and also chaired the green accounting session. As i mentioned earlier, the internship is about what i would like to achieve. Miriam knows that i have a genuine interest into China's development. She has kindly offered me to write three short discussions on the incidents in China and also published them in the proceedings for the annual conference.

The green economic annual conference was a very valuable experience. I have met many professionals across many sectors from chartered accountants, United Nations economic affairs officer to business directors, and professors. Again, Miriam has tailored my work according to my interests. I have been able to meet a very prominent professor from Beijing and spent most of the time sharing ideas with him throughout the conference. He has suggested the possibilities for me to work in China as the bridge to connect between China and Britain.

I am already feeling i have achieved so much even though i have only joined the institute for such a short space of time. It is really an exciting opportunity for everyone with an interest in economics. Taking an internship is about earning experience not money, and this is exactly what the internship at Green Economic Institute offers.

August 2009