Program Reviews

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!

In summer 2024, I lived in Tokyo, Japan to work as the first Product Design Intern among engineers at XELA Robotics Co., Ltd. I learned how to navigate interdisciplinary conversations and had the privilege to immerse myself in a different culture for 2.5 months thanks to CRCC Asia, UO Center for Multicultural Academic Excellence (CMAE), and Freeman Fellowship. From a social design standpoint, I’m in awe of how Japan’s accessible public transport system functions with intricate maps, user-friendly signage, and considerate conductors and passengers who care about keeping the trains and buses clean, safe, and timely for everyone. Riding the train to sightsee, eat, play rooftop soccer, hike Mt. Takao, and explore the greater Tokyo area is what I miss now that I’m back in the car-centric U.S.

At XELA, I collaborated with an engineer and marketing manager to redesign an appearance model for USkin Protect, a fingertip housing a tactile multi-axis sensor for robotic hands and grippers. My design process involved brand analysis, staff perception research, comparative product analysis, sketching, 3D modeling in Rhino and SolidWorks, and reverse engineering.

I am very grateful for the learning experience and the core memories that I made with peers from Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Scotland, Ireland, England, Australia, and so on.

My Tokyo Experience was unforgettable and incredibly rewarding. I interned at J-Global, a startup that helps Western companies integrate into Japanese society and vice versa. This gave me unique insights into cross-cultural business practices and real client projects. I stayed in student accommodation with local university students, which was amazing for cultural exchange and building friendships. There were also well-organized social events that made it easy to meet people, explore Tokyo, and learn more about daily life in Japan. Overall, the program balanced meaningful work experience with cultural immersion, making it an excellent choice for anyone who wants to grow professionally and personally while experiencing Japan authentically. I’d highly recommend it to future participants.

Before I went to Shanghai, I had never lived in a big city, never interacted so regularly with non UK citizens as I grew up in rural Northern Ireland. From my initial application, the support from the CRCC Asia staff and the people I had the pleasure of entering with. This internship opened me up to a range of opportunities, increasing competitiveness in the job market.

I met some amazing friends, experienced a culture very unlike my own. I loved it, the food, the chaos, the working public transport. I had a fantastic time in Shanghai. It was a shock to move from the sticks in NI to a megacity like Shanghai, working in Shanghai tower. But it is an experience unlike any other. Take it, find out for yourself what China or any of the other locations open now are like. Incredibly worth it for the people you meet, connections made, cultural opportunities, the access to local contacts from day one. If you're looking for value, bragging rights, conversely valuable career procrastination that sounds like career growth (it definitely is though!)

Just do it. What's 3 months in the sum of a career? For me, very memorable, very worth it! The CV entry alone is worth a fortune, especially in an increasingly competitive graduate market and early in your career. Socially as a result of the programme, I've friends in Sweden, the Netherlands, Belarus the US and around the UK. Best excuse to travel is to see an old friend.

Funded by the British Council, I embarked on an internship in Shanghai, China as a magazine journalist for City Weekend, an ex-pat focused lifestyle magazine. Orientation before starting the job (which lasted 3 months) included lots of activities to meet my CRCC cohorts, setting up things like a bank account and SIM, cultural and social orientation to better understand Chinese business culture in particular, and free Mandarin lessons! The accommodation was in a good location in Pudong with all of my CRCC buddies and an amazing roommate (shoutout to Gavin!), and close enough to my office near the Nanjing Road by metro. The internship (which I sourced myself but received support from CRCC in navigating) was one of the best things I ever did for my career. The role involved reviewing michelin-starred restaurants, cocktail bars, events, and more, and was a whirlwind in both newsroom skills and the moneyed nightlife of one of the world's most exciting cities. Because of this opportunity, I have since gone on to work as a journalist in top-tier newsrooms at public broadcasters and private publications alike, and this experience has always led to a lot of very interested conversations in job interviews. Although I have since left journalism and now work in PR and political consulting, this internship also proved very useful for getting my foot in the door, especially since I have worked with PRC-based clients. If you are considering doing the CRCC thing, this is your sign to take the plunge and do it now! You will not regret it.

I interned with a digital marketing agency specializing in e-commerce where I conducted research and created decks and spreadsheets on brands in the Chinese market. I later went back to China as a part of an international masters’ degree program in Global Commerce and now work for a creative advertising agency back in the U.S. where my background has given me a unique POV on my clients’ business. I also think the personal growth and skills of resilience and cultural adaptability honed through CRCC and beyond has been foundational for my career growth over the last decade.