Suzanne Lazaroo
27 August 2018: University of Canberra undergraduates returning from the International Internship Program have said that their overseas experiences were transformational.
“It was the single most useful thing I’ve done throughout getting my degree, in terms of personal development and increasing my employability,” Bachelor of Industrial Design student Christopher Fotheringham said. He interned at XentiQ, a design and development company in Singapore, and was able to work on various products including a mobility aid inspired by children with cerebral palsy.
“Being able to contribute to something that can add value to people’s lives was amazing.
“The internship allowed me to develop my skills, but also the confidence that I can work in my chosen field.
“I also found that I had to improve my interpersonal skills to overcome the language barrier, since many of the people I worked with didn’t speak English. We had to find a way to communicate anyway, and that was ultimately very rewarding. In the end, it was about empathy and getting to know people and their stories,” Mr Fotheringham said.
Despite some students’ initial nervousness, they found that getting out of their comfort zones was very fulfilling.
Elizabeth Desmond, who is pursuing a double degree in both Commerce and Communication in Public Relations, was a little anxious about embarking on her internship with the Singapore office of creative agency, JKR.
“I had no prior office experience,” she said. “It worked out really well though, and I enjoyed it.
“The advice I’d give anybody wanting to do this is to be positive, to get the most out of it.”
Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Science undergraduate Greg Bullock found that his internship with the Singapore Rugby Union had illuminated his career path.
“That’s part of the value of the program, getting to know if you actually want to work in an industry,” he said.
“I learned and experienced so much. I got to join medical staff for Super Rugby, International Rugby and Club Rugby matches, learned how to set up a medical team for a major sporting event and provide immediate medical care in a sports setting. And I got my Level 1 and 2 World Rugby Strength and Conditioning, Level 1 First Aid in Rugby and Singapore First Aid accreditations.”
Tri Sulanjari, who is pursuing a Bachelor of Public Health degree, found herself interning for humanitarian organisation World Vision Foundation of Thailand. Among her internship activities was a review of the preschool lunch menu for children in the rural Lampang Province.
“We changed the menu so that it was more appealing for children,” she said. “I also assisted with planning for Go Baby Go!, an early childhood development project, and interviewed members of the migrant community in Mae Sot, on the Thai-Myanmar border, for a case study.
“I’ve learned a lot about cultural competence, personal and professional development and networking – plus I got to travel and get to know Thailand!”
The students found that their internships surpassed all expectations.
“Singapore is known for its multiculturalism, but it’s hard to really appreciate it until you experience it,” said Bachelor of Laws student Kobi Maybury.
Mr Maybury’s internship was at KPMG Cyber Security Framework. “I wanted to practise law, so this was a good way to experience something different and broaden my career path and goals,” he said.
“It was also really good to experience the intense work culture, in such a vibrant economic environment.
Participants found themselves forging strong personal and professional ties on their placements, with some even receiving job offers.
Each internship placement spans six weeks, and participants are all in their third or final year of study. They receive six credit points for participating in the program.
For the program, the University partnered with Ngee Ann Polytechnic in Singapore and Srinakharinwirot University in Thailand.
The International Internship program supports the University’s strategic plan Distinctive by Design, which emphasises enriching, diversifying international academic exchange. It is funded under the Federal Government’s New Colombo Plan Mobility Program, a Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade initiative.
“The program allows you to gain significant in-depth knowledge of working in that particular country, picking up language and cultural skills along the way,” Professor Lyndon Anderson, Pro Vice-Chancellor Learning and Teaching said.
The University received almost $1.3 million for the 2018 program; in July, it announced $1.1 million in funding for 2019, which will see students going to Malaysia, Thailand (both over the summer term), and Singapore (winter semester).
Work Integrated Learning (WIL) Officer Poli Rogers said that the application quota for Malaysia was now full.
“We’re accepting applications for the Thailand program until 26 August. Applications for Singapore will open in September.”
Visit CareersUC for more information.
