Program Reviews

I am a Marketing student at Nottingham Trent University and I really wanted to gain some work experience. At Nottingham Business School Global week, I saw the stand for CRCC Asia and spoke to their representative. He told me about the opportunities that they had to offer me with working in either the city of Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen in China. I applied that same day and was delighted when accepted to work in Beijing for one month directly in a marketing department.
The skills and life lessons that I learnt whilst working out in China was phenomenal. I learnt some mandarin that helped me in the work place. The office that I was put in suited my style and the future job role that I want after graduating from NTU. I would recommend this once in a life time experience to anyone with a drive and a passion to do something different.
This work internship looks amazing on any CV and as such I managed to secure my placement year before Christmas. I am sure that having worked in China really went a long way in my application process. Further to this the friends that you make whilst out in China really stay with you. It’s amazing how close you become to people in such a short amount of time. It is something that I am very much looking forward to do again. Not to mention the contacts that you create when in China. As CRCC Asia organise a networking event specifically for this.
The experience overall has aided me in everyday life problems. After working in China, you feel that you can overcome most problems that you face when you return to university. Another great thing about China. It’s only 80p for a pint!

Undertaking the China Internship Program and Mandarin was the best choice I have ever made in my life. This wasn't my first time in China, but using the services CRCC Asia provided, created a whole new experience for me.
I selected to do the China Internship Program and Mandarin because I wanted to get the full experience that I could. It was one-month Mandarin classes (which they were hard) and two months interning at Beijing Youth International Culture and Arts Association (BYICAA) as their Marketer. I feel like this was the best choice for me at the time, and I was correct.

To some three months might seem like a long time to be away from home, but that is the last thing you are thinking about when you are on one of these programs. All the students that are on the program are all kept in the same apartment building which creates a fantastic opportunity to catch up with each other. We had all formed a bond together and shared Christmas day with each other and even allowing for a game of cricket on Christmas night in our living rooms. (See photo)

Working for BYICAA was a valuable experience for me. I could use the skills I learnt at university and apply them to a different setting. This being outside of big business which I had done in previous internships in Australia. To this day, my colleges at BYICAA consider me like family, and the feeling is mutual.

The additional activities were a bonus. The business events were a great insight into the vast world of international business. I had the opportunity to talk with people who were conducting operations in China. This was a valuable resource. However, it was not all business, the KTV and dumpling making sessions were also a blast. All at no additional cost to myself.

By the end of the trip, I have experienced a different side to China. My original view was that of a naive tourist, but I feel by the end of the three months I could live there forever. I had the opportunity to make great friends with the 30 other students conducting the same program as me. These students weren't just from Australia, but all over the globe, adding to the international experience.

Undertaking this program will be the best thing you ever do.

To intern abroad is now widely regarded as one of the most effective ways to bolster your career and gain practical experience in your preferred industry sector. China is increasingly regarded as a global business powerhouse due to its burgeoning economy, increasing prevalence in the global market and strong projected growth, adding value to a unique internship experience. CRCC Asia programs are extremely international as they accept interns from all over the world, including: England, United States, Canada, Australia, and many more.

Ultimately I accepted a one month internship with one of the leading Chinese mobile software companies and the developer of integrated mobile services for the e-commerce sector. The company's largest client is China Merchants Bank, the biggest private bank in China, and their app receives over 60 million users per month.In early 2016, the company began the process of creating its own app that fills a need in the marketplace for English-speaking foreigners seeking the daily updates, news, coupons, and discounts in the city of Beijing that are all often prescribed in Mandarin. As an intern, some of the goals for me included to helping the business operations and marketing team with market research, data input into the app, data collecting around Beijing, content writing, and writing published feature posts on daily news around the city.

I landed in Beijing on the evening of June 3, 2016 and was picked up by a CRCC Asia representative who took a few other interns and me back to our condominium in the northeast part of the city in the heart of the well-known 798 Art District. Overall, I was very pleased with the living arrangement CRCC provided for us as part of the program. Although I had two other roommates, we each had our own bedroom along with a very spacious living room which gave us more than enough personal space. If I could make one recommendation, it would be that the accommodation was a little closer to the center of the city, instead of in the northeast outskirts. CRCC provided us with a lot of support over the course of the internship duration. They frequently keep tabs on you making sure your experience is as best as it can be. The professionalism & friendliness of their employees truly stood out.

All in all, I had an exceptional experience working with my host company. First and foremost, I was given the opportunity to see firsthand how an emerging business was built almost from the ground up. It is a business that has adapted to the modern age and observing how hard each employee worked on a day to day basis for a common goal was the biggest thing that stood out to me. While the tasks that were asked of me put me in a position to learn a lot, the relationships I formed, not only with manager, but with my other coworkers as well, turned into friendships that made the biggest impact on me and my future. CRCC Asia's placement truly helped make Beijing feel like a home away from home.

Many of the interns remained in China after the program to learn more about the Chinese culture and people.  In July, I commenced on The Dragon Trip – an epic 21-day backpacking trip around the best of China. Incredible sights and off-the- beaten-track attractions took my breath away – camping on the Great Wall outside Beijing; meeting the pandas in Chengdu; seeing the Terracotta Warriors outside Xi’an; a kung fu lesson from a legendary monk at the Shaolin Temple; bamboo rafting on the Li River in Yangshuo… This was the time for some well- deserved fun, together with a small group of 15 new friends from around the world, and for getting to know China outside of the big cities. I would highly recommend anyone to participate in The Dragon Trip. It is one of the few ways for foreigners to get a glimpse at the 'true China" experience.

Having spent two years as an investment banking analyst in London- I had come to the conclusion a career in finance wasn't for me, so I decided to look at all possible options of a 'career reset'. Upon doing some research I came across CRCC Asia and the opportunities they offered for guaranteed internships.

I felt this was the perfect fact to try a marketing role- despite having no previous understanding or experience in the industry- and also to add an international dimension to my CV. During my initial advising telephone conversation, I outlined a long-standing interest in the airline industry and the advisor mentioned they had just secured a partnership with airline host company and that I could be put forward for a possible internship in their marketing department.

The entire process was professionally handled, and whilst I was made aware they were no guarantees with that specific company- it was great to know that CRCC Asia would ensure I was placed in one of my sectors of choice. It completely eradicates the most stressful aspect of job-hunting- the process of finding and applying for jobs!

About 4 weeks before going to China, I was informed I had successfully been placed at the aforementioned airline- and it happened to be Virgin Atlantic! I was extremely impressed by the strong placement and the fact it was also within the marketing team (as per my first choice).

When I arrived in Shanghai- it was for the Feb 2013 intake- so there were fewer participants than the summer- but if anything this made the experience even more rewarding as all of us got to know each other a lot more and became a very close knit group. In total there were about 15 participants - mainly from the UK, Australia, and the US.

Socially, the experience was unbelievable. Outside of work, the group went out at the weekends, explored the city, took day-trips to Hangzhou and Suzhou, and generally become inseparable. Everyone has their own personality, but the best thing is that everyone is like-minded. We had all given up jobs/studies in our home country to come half way around the world to explore a new and different culture! And fundamentally this made it such a joy to spend two months with people who to this day (4 years on) I still consider many of them my close friends (our 'China crew' still has it's dedicated WhatsApp group- and we still meet up regularly to remember the experience - and the oh so many stories!)

On a professional basis, the experience was equally rewarding for me as I was given an insight into the variety of projects and campaigns the Virgin team were involved in. During my 2 months, I was involved in several Virgin- sponsored events including the Shanghai F1 Grand Prix, Shanghai Fashion Show, and James Bond Skyfall Exhibition (where I got to meet the Bond producers!). From the event-management side, I was also given the project of organising a dedicated Scottish-themed event for 50 of Virgin's agency clients to launch its new routes to Aberdeen/Glasgow- the autonomy of this project had me sourcing suppliers, venue, arranging the actual on-the-day logistics, and working the London marketing team to ensure relevant PR. Alongside this, I was exposed to day-to-day implementation tasks for Virgin's high profile 'Flying in the Face of The Ordinary' campaign- whereby I learnt how digital and physical marketing channels were tailored to a Chinese audience. In addition my time at Virgin coincided with the airlines 'April Fool's' PR prank- whereby the airline claimed to have developed a 'glass bottom' plane- and my manager was responsible for launching the PR aspect of this in China which got picked up by CCTV and reported as a genuine news story - thus generating worldwide attention! Overall the work experience was invaluable in terms of its insight and the fact I got a glimpse of the various marketing strands of a major organisation.

Throughout the program, CRCC Asia also organised various events for us - notably a KTV and dumpling-making session, which to this day my friends and I still talk about! Whilst I needed to rely on the CRCC Asia team for support- I always felt they were there and available if I ever required them. The communication on the ground between the team and the participants was clear but not overbearing- which meant participants still had a sense of independence without feeling patronised.

Overall, I cannot speak highly enough about the experience. For some, the biggest issue will be the funding concerns- which is totally understandable, but if you can secure the funds it's such a great experience - socially and professionally- it's something you will never regret.

I went to Shenzhen through CRCC Asia my sophomore summer of college with the intention to gain business experience as well as practice Chinese. My expectations coming in were completely surpassed from the internship, the great apartment, new experiences, and amazing people I met.

I signed up for the 2 week business course and I highly recommend taking advantage of that opportunity. I was able to get close with the 12 other students in the business class and learn about different types of professions and businesses in China. We had 2 speakers a day that ranged from learning how Uber sets up new locations to creating a startup and working with Chinese suppliers as a foreigner.

The course offered great networking opportunities, which is how I got my internship at Omate, a startup that makes smart watches. I was able to grow professionally as well as make an impact on the company themselves. My days were filled with practicing Chinese, coming up with marketing ideas, creating a website, and modeling the smart watch. This experience made great conversations and gave me an edge when interviewing for competitive internships my Junior summer.

On top of the professional experience I gained, I really enjoyed all the activities CRCC provided outside of the office such as dinners, Chinese classes, art classes and karaoke! I also loved the independence you are given, you truly feel like an adult living and working in China. I highly recommend this program!

I interned abroad in Shanghai in the summer of 2015. Shanghai is an incredible city to live in, and I consider myself extremely lucky that I was able to experience it. I have CRCC Asia to thank in part for my experience.
Because I am a Communications major, CRCC Asia doesn't have an internship program specifically catered to my major. I was nervous beforehand that they wouldn't be able to find an internship that matched what I was studying. However, the company I ended up interning with was perfect. The company I interned with is called Shanghai Premium, and is a talent agency that is in charge of commercial directors, producers, animators, etc. Through them, I improved my research skills, my journalism/writing skills, and even learned Photoshop for free! All of these skills I used later in life, and were very helpful to me in the job-search process.
The people in CRCC also helped me throughout my program. They were available via phone and email whenever I had questions or concerns. Once when I was really sick, a member of CRCC helped me find a taxi back to my accommodations, and bought me medicine to make me feel better. I really felt that the company looked out for me.
Long story short, I fully recommend this program.

When I graduated from by Bachelor Political Science I was looking for a new adventure abroad before pursuing my graduate studies and it was with great excitement that I decided to apply to the 2 months Language + Internship program offered by CRCC Asia in Beijing.
This incredible experience in China gave me a professional, cultural and social enrichment thanks to CRCC Asia!
After only a few days in Beijing, I had my routine and I was excited to discover all the beauty that the capital has to offer. All the interns on the program quickly became like family and we all spent so many great moments together. We did and saw during our stay in Beijing! Social and cultural activities were provided by CRCC Asia during the entire Program.
I chose to learn Chinese due to the growing place of that language in the world and my love for foreign languages. My first month of studying mandarin gave me the opportunity to learn some basic of the language and amplify my desire to speak it fluently, and also the desire to explore the world and even more the Chinese culture.
My internship in a Chinese company gave me the chance to have an international working experience in China! I was able to use my competencies, but also to learn so much about the working environment in China and in developing my capacity of adaptation and my autonomy. Discussions with my supervisor and colleagues, lunch meetings and participation at the Convention of Technology in Beijing gave me the chance to gain a better understanding of the business etiquette in China.
Shortly after my return to Canada I realised the beauty of my experience. My stay in China gave me a better understanding of the culture and the way of doing business in China, as well as the desire to become more familiar with different aspects of that country.
Participating in one of the programs offered by CRCC Asia was certainly one of the most rewarding experience I did and that I highly recommend to everyone with the desire to live a memorable professional and social experience.

I participated in the Spring 2016 internship in Shanghai , China. As a nursing major I was placed in at a local hospital. This experience allowed me to experience healthcare in China and will allow me to be a more culturally aware nurse. The staff at my internship were really nice and really took me under their wing. CRCC staff took us to our first day of our internship and I thought that was really helpful. I would recommend interning in China with CRCC Asia.

I had an overall incredible experience in Beijing. The staff was very friendly, helpful, and answered all of the questions that I had about my internship. The people I met during my time there were the best part about my trip. We all got so close and are still friends till this day. There are so many things to do in China and the nightlife is amazing! Overall, I had a great internship experience and would highly recommend CRCC Asia!

My friends and I decided we wanted to travel to one of the most complicated cities in China to reach. We took over 10 modes of transportation to reach our end destination. The longest mode being a 10 hour overnight train, not in sleeper cars. I have never become so close with a group of people as fast as I did on this adventure. I will never forget the people who stared at me on the train, that yelled at me in chinese, and the few people who spoke English that saved our souls.