Born in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Kamalova immigrated to Canada with her family about six years ago. After having graduated from Carleton University with the Bachelor degree in Combined European and Russian Studies/Law, she decided to use her Russian language skills in her future career.
 
"I have always had an interest in international relations," she says. "Although, I did not know exactly what kind of career I was going to pursue, I knew that it would have to do with international relations. This was the reason why I chose to study European and Russian studies at Carleton University."
 
Shortly after graduation, she got two academic internship opportunities in the field of international development: one at the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC), where she assisted in development projects in Russia and Armenia, and the other at Aga Khan Foundation Canada, where she helped with educational development projects in Central Asia. Kamalova says she is very excited to now have an opportunity to work for UArctic.
 
"When I heard of the opportunity to work in Russia on the implementation of the UArctic Bachelor of Circumpolar Studies Program, I did not have any second thoughts applying for it. It combined my knowledge of Russian language and my interests in education and international relations," she says.
 
Currently training at UArctic's Undergraduate Office at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, Canada, Kamalova will be leaving for Russia in the next few weeks.
 
Kamalova's internship is organized by the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC) and is sponspored by the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs' (DFAIT) Young Professionals International Program. The program helps young Canadians get their first overseas work experience.
 
For more information:
UArctic Internships