Program Reviews

I have just gotten back from two of the most exciting months of my life. Meiji Internships organized a wonderful experience for me in Vietnam. It did not only include the internship, but also fun activities outside of work. All the staff members and colleagues at my internship were extremely friendly, knowledgeable and helpful.
Realistically speaking, the opportunities I have been given in Vietnam were amazing. My internship has set me up for my career in the US as well as international if that’s the path I happen to choose. There are so many reasons to be thankful for the professional development I have received. Vietnam does not only have a fascinating culture and history but is also know as Start-up nation! That makes it the perfect country to intern in! With what I have learned in Vietnam, I can officially claim that I am ready for whatever life might throw at me!

My time in Korea is something I will treasure forever. I came to Seoul on the Standard package and had chosen Consulting as my industry. My host company was a Korean manufacturing business and I worked in their HR department.
The projects I was assigned encompassed presentations, personnel selection, field trips and assisting the HR team to identify issues and working out a plan for improvement.
The part I found most exciting was seeing how job interviews are conducted in Korea as it is very different from France.

Even though I had meetings, one on ones with my supervisor and my normal working hours, there was still plenty of free time. I loved exploring Seoul, trying new food and going for hikes. There are also a lot of cute cafes worth exploring!
Aside from the internship, Meiji organised weekend activities, dinners, industry visits, and so much more! They took care of all sorts of administrative papers and were present when needed.

My internship not only gave me valuable experience in a different work environment, but also intercultural experiences I would not have had back in Europe. Returning home, I feel like a better professional who has hands-on skills and is not only fully aware of cultural differences but also knows how to navigate them.

If you want to work in a friendly and respectful environment in Kaohsiung, trust Meiji. They will help you find what you are looking for!

I passed two months with my company and I regret nothing. Most times I worked in the marketing department of my company. I wrote a lot of articles, helped optimise the website, edited pictures and shot videos for youtube. I also helped with a big project with a French company. I was the only person in the office who knew French and it left a great impression on the clients. We came up with fantastic results in collaboration with this company and I am very proud of our achievements. To help you on your tasks, the staff will be here to guide you. With two days off, I was able to discover Kaohsiung and the surrounding.

Even after the work, it was a pleasure to share some special moments with colleagues, the Meiji team and other interns. A big thank you to all of them. Sadly, I could not say goodbye to everyone so I use that review to say “Au revoir“ to those I hadn’t saw the say of my departure!

Concerning Kaohsiung, it is one of the most important city of the island. It is amazing and my company and apartment could not have a better location. Take a 10 minutes walk and you can know many places of interest like 85 Sky Tower, Exhibition Centre, National Public Library and more. There was a small night market in front of my shared accommodation and many shops where you could buy anything you need 24/7.
I had an incredible time and feel comfortable recommending Meiji to others. Contact me if you have any questions!

Last winter, I did a 3-months internship in Japan. I am from a very traditional town in Southern Italy, which is why I didn’t want to go to a city that is as crazy big as Tokyo or Kyoto. Fortunately, Meiji offers the Explore Japan internship program, which allowed me to specify my location goals. Although I didn’t think it would be possible, they found me an internship in my dream location: Hokkaido!

Yes, it was very cold. Yes, it was a bit secluded. But it was exactly what I was looking for in my internship. My company was a Ski resort/traditional Japanese ryokan (like a bed and breakfast) which opened around 2015. Since I see myself working in Tourism & Hospitality in the future, it was the perfect match. Most of my tasks revolved around customer service and a bit of marketing: checking in guests, helping with the rooms, taking photos and promoting the place on social media and external partner websites. Sometimes, I would work outside on the mountain side and help with ski lessons. It was possibly the most adventurous internship I will ever have and I loved every minute of it!

My internship was in a school located in the Upper Northeast of Thailand. They enroll around 200 students in kindergarten to secondary grades and wish to provide them with a positive and effective learning environment where they can discover the fun of learning new things. A wonderful message, I believe. I worked there as an active teaching assistant and promoted valuable learning experiences through project-based activities, outdoor games, cross-cultural exchanges and field trips. It was my first time in Thailand (and Asia!) and it was amazing. Immediately when I arrived, I was welcomed by a couple of parents. It felt right instantly. They were incredibly kind and caring. Since I came in on a long weekend, I met up with my Meiji coordinator and colleagues before visiting the school. They took me sightseeing and for the most delicious meals. I was asked whether I wanted to work in kindergarten or primary school. I wanted to do both and luckily I could because there was no other intern. The principal then made a schedule for me. I assisted with PE, Art and English as well as giving a couple of classes on my culture. Everyone was always so kind in interested in getting to know me. My colleagues seemed a bit shy at first, but later when I got to know them better, we became friends.

Communication, in general, was what I struggled with the most. Sometimes, I could not understand the children in the kindergarten because they did not know English all too well. But I suppose that is part of the experience of being a foreigner. Gestures and basic Thai words which I had picked up worked just fine! I just wish I had taken some actual Thai classes before as it would have helped immensely.

Most of the days after school or on the weekend, parents, teachers or Meiji staff would invite me to come eat with them or to travel. They want you to have the best experience. I stayed for 2 months and wish it had been longer. I would love to come back and visit everyone! Thank you!

I am currently a sophomore student at Stanford University and embarked on my internship in Asia this last Summer. My time in Busan was amazing. My placement was in a marketing and advertisement company focusing on inbound tourism for Western tourists and I was involved in customizing, organizing and supporting local events held in Busan and its surrounding areas. We did a lot of field workshops with international exchange students and also participated in a local town festival where I had the chance to learn more about the food culture in Korea. Due to Busan's ideal location I was able to go on a weekend trip to Fukuoka (Japan) and Seoul (Korea's capital). Both cities being less than an hour away and also affordable for a low budget traveller as me it was really great! Warning: Shopping heaven!! Make sure to bring enough cash as it is really difficult to resist to Korea's colorful fashion and art scene!

In a word: Seoul was a blast!
I never expected that I will learn so much and have so much fun within a month and a half in Korea. My internship was in a human resources company where I was entrusted a full project of researching new corporate clients for international candidates looking for STEM-skill oriented jobs in Korea. Most of my colleagues were not able to speak English fluently, but it did not really influence my work flow, communication and tasks I was appointed to. The opposite was the case, many colleagues made a lot of effort addressing my questions afterwards in written form and my boss was following up on some of the queries I had. It seems quite common that many companies in Korea lack a certain level of English, but it is very important to be patient and also try to learn some basic Korean phrases as it can help a lot as an ice-breaker. I also had the chance to attend some client meetings and was also taken on company dinners with my colleagues. Just make sure to learn basic Korean dinning manners. Definitely more complicated than back in the States. lol
Meiji Kamsamhamnida and will be back next year for another follow up internship in Korea. Maybe in Seoul or Busan!

After chatting with some Meiji alumni last year I decided to take part in Meiji Internships South Korea program. Not only did my internship exceed my expectations, but the other students who joined the program had such similar mindsets to my own that we hit it off right away. The Meiji Internships Team did an exceptional job at helping us improve our job applications (resume, cover letter, interview prepping…) and also did a fantastic job matching us with our ideal company in our desired field to allow personal and professional growth. There was a great balance of support and freedom throughout my time in Korea. I wouldn’t have like to pay a fixed price for activities that I cannot join anyways or have no interest in, so having the opportunity to choose where I wanted to go/what activity I wanted to join was a good solution for me. I feel like Meiji honestly believes in the interns they accept into their program and thoroughly want them to succeed. The people who join their program are not your typical sponsored fancy university grad students, but normal people who genuinely care about Asia and their future careers. I feel like Meiji understands this and does an amazing job supporting us (for instance by offering a placement package or providing discounts on certain activities).

Hi! I'm Illaria, I'm 23 and I come from Genova (Italy). I spent 3 months in Taiwan, and.. wow! Best time ever! My internship placement was amazing. It was exactly what I was looking for and needed for my uni credit! The staff are so great and so knowledgeable. I loved my tasks and never felt bored. My colleagues were always there to help me if I had any problem. We often went out for lunch which helped us grow closer as a team. At the events which Meiji organised I had lots of fun. I enjoyed Taiwan and met many people. Meiji is also cheaper than other providers, that is why I chose them in the first place. But their service is unparalleled, they are awesome. Thanks a lot fellow Meijis, staff, interns, my colleagues, people I met during events, everyone. I will miss you all!

The adventures you will have abroad, in a new environment, are reason enough to go!
I visited Halong Bay, swam under a waterfall, had food sitting down on the ground with locals and drove a motorcycle through these crazy streets. My internship was one of the best things I could have done for my personal growth. It opened me to an environment that is completely new and full of opportunity. I can now say with all honesty that my perspective of the world has changed. I take less for granted and take full advantage of the opportunities at my disposal. I made countless friends from all around the world including places like Chile, Australia and Lithuania! Going abroad was an experience that I have always looked forward to and can now always look back on with fond memories. Thank you!