CRCC Global Reviews

I thought that my internship in Japan was an incredible experience and I'm thankful that I was able to do it. I worked with Global Stride in Osaka and they allowed me to complete tasks that pertained to marketing, researching the international market and developing products. I loved learning more about what it's like to work in Japan and challenging myself to work in such a foreign country.
This experience allowed me to gain work experience but also live in another country. Not only was I able to see Japan as a tourist but I was able to commute to work, meet other cultures and learn what it's like to work at a company in a international environment. I felt as though this experience took me out of my comfort zone and helped me feel more confident when placing myself in different situations.
Another reason why I loved my internship was because everyone at Global Stride was very accepting of me and my ways of working. They allowed me to do projects that I could learn new things and actually help out the company. I enjoyed being able to have that freedom while also knowing that if I had any questions they were there to help. Global Stride is very good at allowing international students to feel welcomed and help contribute their ideas to the work they're given.
My advice to those who may take part in this internship is to stay open minded. Take every opportunity that is offered to you and don't be afraid to ask questions. Try new things and venture out of your comfort zone and meet people around you. Your time will fly by so enjoy your internship and your time abroad. This was an amazing experience for me and helped me grow as a person.

I spent one month in Seoul, South Korea doing an internship with a company called KoreaPEN. During my time, CRCC Asia ensured that we got the most from the experience by taking us to popular Korean sites, introducing us to new companies, showing us how much easier it is becoming for foreigners to come to South Korea, and immersing us in South Korea start-up culture. This is definitely an experience to remember, the connections I have made and the future opportunities I have been offered as a direct result of CRCC Asia's help have been invaluable.

I spent 8 weeks in Amagasaki Japan near Osaka. My internship location was in Kobe. Before CRCC Asia I completed a different study abroad program in the Kansai area of Japan. I had already been to Osaka and Kyoto but not Kobe. Kobe is such a beautiful city and I suggest it to everyone! CRCC Asia provided a lot of great assistance and the program team was always there checking in on us. Every step was very easy and they provided whatever information that you may have needed. I had an amazing time.

My experience with CRCC Asia was such a fun experience and gave me so many memories. From the moment I arrived, I was welcomed by a wonderful team member and taken to the location I would be staying at. I felt super welcomed and supported by the team both in Korea and Japan, who were always available to answer any questions!| One of the main highlights for me on the porgramme was to experience South Korean culture while gaining valuable experience. I enjoyed exploring Seoul, trying new foods and visiting historical sites and even having the opportunity to wear the hanbok which was organised by CRCC Asia.

The trip itself allowed me to build confidence and improve my communication skills, whilst gaining practical experience that can be valuable for my future. Overall, I would highly recommend CRCC Asia to anyone wanting to visit both Japan and Korea allowing them to experience both cultures in 2 weeks.

I did my product engineering internship with CRCC Asia in Shanghai, working at an international early-stage startup building a companion robot. The English-speaking environment was perfect, and I loved the mentorship I got; my manager invested a lot of time in my growth, showing me around Shanghai and its tech scene. The work itself was fun and not overly demanding. The one thing I'd have wanted was a more experienced mentor specifically within my own field, since I was the only one on the team working in it. Outside of that, I learned a huge amount across other fields too.

The biggest benefit of the whole program was that CRCC Asia handled everything; I didn't have to do any of the administration myself, and that was huge, especially not being familiar with the local processes and language. Visa, accommodation, healthcare, employment contracts, app setup, mobile phone; all of it was sorted for me, so the entire experience was stress-free from the moment I landed.

Housing was spacious and mostly clean; I lived with five people, which was adequate for the space. The best part was the location: close to the metro, food, a convenience store, pharmacy, and supermarket, about a 15-minute walk to the nearest metro station. Some things did break during my stay, but issues were mostly resolved quickly, and housing support was available almost 24/7. My only wish was that the kitchen was better furnished and the interior a bit more modern, but overall I was very satisfied with my own bedroom.

Social culture was great; not too different from home (NZ), and I integrated quickly, though being Chinese myself probably helped with that. Nothing felt drastically different, aside from how fast technology adoption is and how much quicker everyday things move: traffic, pace of people, that kind of thing.

The food scene was excellent; really good and super accessible. Delivery through Meituan was fast, and the service was great overall. I loved China's online ordering system in general; there are tons of discounts you can stack to bring prices down even further, and the food itself is already so cheap compared to back home. My top tip: get a local phone number as soon as you can, it opens up way more apps and discounts, so you can really make the most of it. Honestly, the food is what I miss the most.

The University of Auckland didn't prepare or support me directly for this, since I did the internship externally rather than through the university. That said, the soft skills and professional skills I picked up through my degree definitely helped; they set me up well to excel in the workplace and socialize with my peers.

Shanghai felt very safe overall; there's constant surveillance throughout the city, and I never ran into any unsafe moments during my time there. I'd highly recommend it as a host city. My main safety advice for future students is just the standard stuff: stay responsible, keep your wits about you, and you should be fine.

I did have a bit of a healthcare experience; I caught a cold that lingered longer than usual, and CRCC Asia's support recommended I go to the hospital. They stayed on top of it the whole way, checking in regularly to see how I was doing. The hospital itself was easily accessible, and CRCC Asia handled all the logistics of getting me there; I just had to show up. Nothing major stood out as a prevalent health issue in Shanghai. My main recommendation is to get whatever vaccines are recommended for the program before you go, and stick to basic hygiene precautions: wash your hands, avoid tap water. Shanghai itself is a clean city overall, so it's really just those small precautions that matter.

I gained valuable work experience interning with a company specialising in mechanistic modelling for pharmaceutical development. Although I am studying medicine, I had no prior experience working in the medical or scientific research field, making this an excellent opportunity to learn within an innovative and rapidly evolving company that has already received global recognition.

I was initially challenged by being immersed in a complex research topic, but I adapted quickly and ultimately produced results that my supervisor was very pleased with. Beyond the professional experience, I formed lifelong friendships and had the opportunity to immerse myself in a culture entirely new to me, which contributed significantly to my personal and professional growth.

Last summer, I had a four-week internship with DKMedInfo (also known as SmartENR) with Alex, the CEO. Half of my week was working from home (WFH) style which allowed me to explore various cafes to work at like the aquarium cafe in Seoul, and the other half of the week was an adventurous journey both to-and-from the office, which was based in Suwon, and to many University campuses where we promoted the nursing AI company to prospective and current students. I had such a wonderful time, and I am visiting Alex again this August in Seoul, thanking him for the opportunity which has enabled me with experience working globally. This internship gave me the experience in working abroad, and has definitely inspired and assisted in obtaining my graduate job as a teacher in China this September. Working with Alex was an honour and a privilege that I only had because it was provided to me by CRCC Asia. Notably, everyone in the CRCC Asia community was well-informed on introducing us to Korean work culture (especially Tess, who accompanied me to the office building on my first day which was super helpful). Not only did Alex introduce me to new skills, he also introduced me to many local food spots he ate at as an undergraduate. He also drove me to amazing places like the Seoul National memorial site where he showed me the British soldiers that fought in the Korean War. When Alex needed somebody to print 400 copies of his AI company catalogue for a conference in Manchester that month, I took initiative; using my immense amount of luck (my dad used to work in a printing factory for 34 years, his only job and work qualification in a town with little opportunity) I managed to make this happen with this local printing factory, generating revenue for my local working-class town while also organising and managing the printing of these copies for the convenience of my boss (it is always good to have one less thing to worry about when travelling for a conference). I felt like I had been able to give back both throughout and after my internship. After my internship ended, I accompanied him at the conference in Manchester and showed him around my relatively local English city. Overall, I can’t recommend this internship enough. I have to highlight one factor though for CRCC to consider; this opportunity would not have happened without the grant provided to me by the Turing Scheme and the others (like professional clothing grants) from Durham University.

My experience last summer was completely and utterly unforgettable. Even though I had been to Kyoto many times before, this was the first time I went alone. From the moment I arrived I was kindly greeted by staff and transported to the hotel where we had a debrief and checked into our rooms. The staff provided us with suggestions of sites to visit, restaurant recommendation as well as how to get over the culture shock of being in a foreign country. All of this was very helpful and created a bond of trust and respect between us and the supervisors which set a precedent for the next 8 weeks. My favorite part of this trip was navigating the complex and expansive public transport system. I commuted to my internship and was fascinated by the level of engineering that went into producing seamlessly on time trains, and quiet rides. My internship was also a great learning experience where I handled international market research and business strategy. My supervisors at my internship were kind and inviting, even taking me out to company lunches. I immediately felt a sense of community from the CRCC staff as well as the employees at my company which gave me confidence in my transition to working in a Japanese business setting. I always felt like I could reach out to CRCC staff with any and all questions I had. I remember our coordinator, Christina Xenaki, even went with me on the first day of work to make sure I was able to find the right transit route and get there on time. Overall this experience was a great opportunity for me and left a lasting impact. I would (and have) highly recommend pursing CRCC programs to others.

This program was an amazing opportunity to explore Japan and its culture and experience while also gaining professional experience. Japan itself is a great location because of how easy and convenient it is to explore and how rich in culture it is. Being able to go in a cohort with other students was very nice to be able to travel together and build friendships. Interacting with the employees at the company was very valuable because they were able to give insights and recommendations as to what things were must dos while there.

Overall, I had a really good experience with the CRCC program. I didn’t love my first job placement, but the team was super supportive and helped me switch to a new one that I ended up absolutely loving. I really appreciated how they listened and made the change happen quickly. Definitely a solid program. I’d recommend it to anybody who is wanting to live and work abroad. Not only did I gain valuable work experience, but I also got to immerse myself in a new culture, meet amazing people, and grow both personally and professionally. It’s a unique opportunity worth taking!