What is your favorite travel memory?
During my gap year I travelled around the world with my best friend, and we visited Fiji. It was the most stunning island, and we did a day trip snorkelling in the middle of the ocean, it was so surreal.
After we returned, we booked the exact same excursion for the later in the week and it didn't disappoint. The most perfect day which I will never forget!
How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?
Working with AES has allowed me to grow both professionally and personally over the many years I have been here.
I started at AES as an administrator and have since grown to head of department, which has been a tremendous learning curve, which I couldn't have done without the support from the AES team.
What is the best story you've heard from a return student?
We often hear stories from students about their careers, and how their time in London influenced the rest of their lives and decisions they made going forward. However, I love love, and we once had a student meet their future husband on their semester abroad and he proposed in Sky Gardens at the top of the Walkie Talkie (an iconic building in London)!
If you could go on any program that your company offers, which one would you choose and why?
I would love to do the AES London Semester or Summer Session, as it allows you to fully emerge into life as a Londoner, while still having the support and guidance of AES so you are not dropped in the deep end. There is also a lot of free time to explore the city, and arranged excursions allowing you to meet other people.
What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?
We always say that AES is unique because we are only based in London, allowing us to be London specialist, as opposed to generalists of many locations. Having this focus allows us to offer personal touches and recommendations to every programme we develop. The team is very passionate about this and has many years of experience doing so.
What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?
Flexibility. This can be both our strength and weakness, as some partners want a programme to be straightforward and selected out of a brochure. However, we offer a huge amount of flexibility and tailor make every programme we deliver, ensuring the experiences we are offering are meaningful and relevant to each partner/student.
Response from AES
Hi Emily
Thank you for taking the time to review the AES London Semester Program. We’re glad that you enjoyed your internship and your time in London.
The housing for your programme was arranged directly by your university and was not provided by AES, so unfortunately we can’t address your issues.
The majority of our interns have a skype/telephone interview with their placement which gives students the opportunity to discuss the exact details of the internship, what the work environment is like etc. Once the placement is confirmed AES sends details of the company and students are able to contact the company directly. After the initial call with AES, if students have any questions about any aspect of their programme the AES staff are always on hand to answer them. We will certainly take on board your comments.
I hope you have a safe flight home.