Overall Experience: Fair to Poor
My experience with AIP was significantly below expectations, primarily due to a lack of clear communication, poor logistical planning, and a questionable internship placement. While some aspects were eventually resolved, the initial and ongoing issues created a stressful and disappointing two-month stay in Singapore.
Pre-Departure Communication and Planning: Poor
The communication leading up to my departure was a major point of frustration. I frequently had to send multiple follow-up emails (two to three times) to my agent to get a response to my questions. This was in stark contrast to their quick response time when they needed something from me. This one-sided communication created a sense of disorganisation and left me feeling unprepared.
A significant issue was the last-minute confirmation of my accommodation. I was not informed of where I would be staying until just a few days before my flight, which is an unreasonably short timeframe for a two-month international stay.
Accommodation: Unacceptable
One of my primary requests was to have a kitchen, as two months of eating out in a city like Singapore is expensive. I was initially told that for the first month, I would be placed in a hotel without a kitchen or a washing machine, but that my subsequent accommodation could include a kitchen. This plan was not followed. Instead, my stay at the initial hotel was simply extended, forcing me to continue paying for all my meals and laundry, which cost $16 per load. This was a significant and unexpected financial burden.
Furthermore, the room itself was inadequate. It lacked a wardrobe, so I was forced to live out of my suitcase for the entire duration of my stay. My clothes were either stored in the luggage or on a rack.
It became clear that the promise of a kitchen was never a real possibility. I was informed after the first month that a kitchen is only provided for stays of three months or more. This is a critical piece of information that AIP knew before my departure and should have communicated to me upfront, rather than putting me in a difficult situation I could not plan for.
Internship Placement and Professional Experience: Unprofessional and Disorganised
My first internship placement was with a company that was questionable. The work environment was highly unprofessional and led to me quitting just two weeks in, a sentiment shared by other interns who also left the company. We were working in a shared office space, and because the company had more than the allowed number of interns for their space (3 employees maximum), we were instructed to sneak in through a back door and were not allowed to enter as a group through the main entrance. We also then wouldn’t come in the office everyday so as a guidance it was around twice a week.
Following this, I was left without an internship for a few weeks before being placed in a remote role. While the second company was better, working remotely from a coffee shop or my hotel room was not the immersive, international experience I had paid for. The purpose of traveling across the world for an internship is to be in a professional, in-person environment, not to be isolated and working from a personal computer.
Internal Communication and Contradictory Policies: Disorganised
The internal communication within AIP appears to be highly inefficient. I was assigned two separate agents: one for my internship placement and one for my accommodation and overall stay. When discussing compensation and refunds, I received contradictory information. One agent suggested that if I was not placed in a new internship, I would be eligible for a 50% refund, along with a refund for the remaining accommodation fees (which did not happen in the end as I was placed in a second internship). However, when I brought up the possibility of compensation for the high costs of daily meals and laundry, I was abruptly told that AIP never issues refunds, citing their company policy. This clear contradiction highlights a lack of internal alignment and transparency.
Recommendation
Based on my experience, I would be hesitant to recommend AIP. The program is poorly organised, and the communication is subpar. My trip was marred by preventable issues with accommodation and an initial unprofessional work placement.
If you are considering an internship with AIP, I strongly advise you to gather all the information you need and get everything in writing before committing. Make sure all your specific needs and expectations are clearly outlined and confirmed to avoid being blindsided by unexpected and costly problems.
