My internship experience in Bangkok, Thailand was an incredibly rewarding experience that I will always remember. It gave me the opportunity to gain hands-on exposure to the civil and structural engineering industry while experiencing a completely different work environment and culture. Throughout the internship, I learnt not only technical engineering knowledge, but also how professional engineers communicate, collaborate, solve problems, and manage projects in a real workplace. Seeing how engineering concepts from university are applied to actual projects has given me a much clearer understanding of the profession and has strengthened my confidence in pursuing a career as a structural engineer.
The AIP team made the entire process smooth and stress-free from beginning to end. My account manager, Jeff Oo, organised all of the required documents and guided me through each step, making the application and preparation process straightforward. My community managers, Nisha Shahi, Herlyn Jarder, and Kate Myat Noe were also incredibly supportive throughout the internship. I especially appreciated Nisha organising a welcome dinner before work began, which allowed all of the Bangkok interns to meet each other and settle in before starting our placements. She also kindly walked me to my workplace on my first day, making it much easier to navigate an unfamiliar city and helping me feel comfortable from the very beginning.
The accommodation arranged by AIP was in a convenient location close to my workplace, making the daily commute simple and allowing me to focus on getting the most out of the internship. Whenever I had questions—whether about purchasing a SIM card, transportation, or everyday life in Bangkok—the AIP team was always approachable and quick to help. The pre-departure meeting was also extremely useful, providing practical advice on local services, cultural differences, and things to be aware of before arriving in Thailand.
Overall, this internship exceeded my expectations. I gained valuable professional experience, improved my communication and organisational skills, learnt how engineers work together in industry, and developed a greater appreciation for working in an international environment. I am very grateful to AIP for their continuous support throughout the entire journey and would highly recommend the program to any student looking for an overseas internship experience.