For Lin Choi, studying at KDI School became an opportunity to redefine her career direction and explore climate-focused international development. Lin is an MDP student at KDI School and is currently completing a six-month internship with the Climate Technology Innovation Unit at the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) in Vienna, Austria.

Before joining KDI School, Lin worked for three years at the Korea office of a German foundation. Her work focused on democratic governance and regional development across East and Southeast Asia. That experience gave her a strong foundation in international cooperation and encouraged her to seek a more specialized role.

When Lin began searching for an internship, she hoped to gain experience in the United Nations system and work on climate related issues. UNIDO attracted her because of its approach to development. “UNIDO focuses on industrial and economic development,” Lin said. “It looks at how industry and innovation can create sustainable growth.” This perspective felt meaningful to Lin as someone from South Korea. Korea’s development experience showed her how industrial growth can transform a country. She wanted to learn how similar approaches could support developing countries while responding to climate change.

Lin’s unit supports micro, small, and medium sized enterprises in countries that are highly vulnerable to climate shocks. These businesses include farmers, local manufacturers, and family run enterprises. The unit helps them gain access to funding, technology, and stronger innovation networks. Its goal is to make climate adaptation a realistic investment opportunity rather than only an additional cost. It places particular emphasis on Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States.

Lin was especially drawn to this work because climate change often deepens existing inequalities. Its effects differ according to class, gender, and location. Many projects therefore focus on vulnerable communities, women led enterprises, youth led enterprises, and locally led adaptation. “This was exactly the kind of work I wanted to do,” she said. “I wanted to understand how climate projects could support communities that are affected first and most severely.”

During her internship, Lin has gained direct experience in project development and implementation. Many programmes in her unit are funded by the Global Environment Facility. In May, her unit attended the Global Environment Facility Assembly in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. The event brought together representatives from nearly 200 countries and created opportunities for UNIDO to discuss future cooperation.

From Vienna, Lin coordinated meetings with country representatives. She prepared project materials and concept notes. She also followed up with countries that expressed interest. Her responsibilities included arranging online discussions, preparing briefing notes, and supporting communication with potential partners.

Lin also drafted terms of reference and a work plan for ongoing projects. Through these tasks, she learned how partnerships move from an initial conversation toward a concrete project.

KDI School played an important role in preparing Lin for this experience. Courses taught by Professor Trinh Pham and Professor Kim Young Jae helped her build a basic understanding of climate adaptation and environmental policy. For one final paper, she examined gender inequality in the impacts of climate change. That assignment transformed her general interest in climate issues into a clearer academic and professional goal.

Lin also values the diversity of the KDI School community. Her classmates come from many countries, including places that are often discussed in international development projects. “In class, you are not only discussing policy in theory,” she said. “You are hearing directly from people who have seen how policies work, or fail to work, in their own countries.” These conversations helped her understand the importance of local knowledge and locally led solutions. She believes this perspective cannot be gained from textbooks alone.

For students interested in international organizations, Lin recommends researching the team and project before applying. Internship duties can vary greatly depending on the unit and timing. Applicants should read the terms of reference carefully and ask about likely assignments during the interview. She also suggests reviewing UNIDO Compass, which provides information about ongoing projects. Language skills are another advantage. Many countries involved in her current work are French speaking. She frequently uses artificial intelligence translation tools to prepare documents and emails.

Her final advice is practical. Students should begin visa and housing preparations as early as possible. Lin’s experience shows how KDI School can connect academic learning with international practice. Through coursework and classroom diversity, she gained the knowledge and confidence to pursue climate technology work at UNIDO. Her journey shows that career change is possible with curiosity, preparation, and a willingness to explore new opportunities.