Increasing numbers of college students value overseas internships, believing they are an excellent start to their career.

 

Wang Jue was among the first group of Shanghai university students to have an internship at Disney, in the US.

 

"The internship at Disney really allowed me to adapt to cultural differences and gave me the chance to mingle with American friends. Consequently, I believe, I have become more mature."

 

The Disney internship not only widened Wang's horizons, but also gave her an edge when it came to finding a job.

 

Wang, who used to teach foreigners Chinese at Shanghai Normal University, now works as an executive at a five-star hotel in Shanghai.

 

"After the first group returned from the US and got a lot of job offers our university sent a second group of students and now we are sending the third," Wang's teacher, Bai Hua said.

 

Shanghai Normal University has so far sent more than 100 students, including both undergraduates and postgraduates, to the internship program offered by Disney.

 

Wang Mengyang, a second-year postgraduate student majoring in TV and film production, said although the internship programs cost US$5,999, they were worth the money.

 

She said she had even earned some money for future tuition fees.

 

Direct benefit

 

Bai said the direct benefit for students with overseas internships is they can get better job offers, compared with their peers.

 

"But the benefits are definitely more than that. They become more independent and mature," Bai said.

 

The university survey said more than 60 percent of students will apply for overseas internships.

 

Guo Hanfang, national secretary of the International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience, said IAESTE, an international non-profit and non-governmental organization, has helped 600-plus Chinese students obtain overseas internships since its China office was established in 2000.

 

Guo said China, especially Shanghai, has become a hot destination for foreign students to get internships.

 

Ouyang Hui, director of Talent Research Department of www.ChinaHR.com said: "The experience of overseas internships is a plus for job-seeking but it does not count for everything. Domestic internships pay off, as long as the intern works hard."

 

(China Daily October 30, 2007)