Top 5 Reasons to Study Abroad with CAPA International Education


This guest post is written by Jessica, a college student, blogger, and recent CAPA International Education Alumnus.  Jessica spent six weeks studying International Marketing in London, England with CAPA during the summer session, and it was one of the most fulfilling experiences of her life.  Read on to see her Top 5 reasons to study abroad with Capa International Education.

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Get Ahead of the Pack: The Career Benefits of International Internships in China

China-shanghai-Alliance_350_Photo__cd26For college students today, study abroad programs are becoming more available and encouraged. In 2013-2014 about 290,000 students were part of international education programs, and that number is projected to continue to grow through focused initiatives to increase international education in the US. However, as study abroad begins to feel more commonplace, many students have turned to international internships as a way to differentiate themselves from the pack.

More than just a standard cultural immersion program, international internships allow you to learn about how other cultures do business, gain practical skills in an international setting, and make professional connections all over the world. We see specifically that more and more students are flocking to China to get a competitive edge.

So, why China?

China is Relevant. China has become a hotspot for professional experience due to the country’s booming economy and desire for an English speaking workforce. In addition to the contributions of successful Chinese corporations, China’s economy gets a boost from multinational companies–giants like Coca-Cola and KPMG– relocating their Asia headquarters to China. As traditional Chinese business ventures continue to succeed, new sectors such as green technology and engineering are also developing as international and local Chinese companies flock to China to innovate. Chinese business culture has become a part of many multinational companies, making this culture an important one to understand. Interning in China allows students an opportunity to experience first-hand Chinese business culture and the country’s influence on businesses all over the world.

You get a multicultural experience. The flux of international companies establishing themselves in China has been a huge draw for people all over the world and has made the country a desirable international hub. In a recent survey, an estimated 7,000 international expatriates recently ranked China as the best overall destination for work and 85% of expats in China are working for international companies in sectors such as business (sales and marketing), banking and financial services, and engineering. Popular expat destinations include Shanghai and Beijing, with Hong Kong an attractive choice for the financial services sector.

You will learn a language spoken by more than 1 billion people. Mandarin, the main language for business in China, is spoken by around 1.4 billion people as a first or second language. This makes Mandarin the #2 most spoken language in the world, followed next by Spanish. Being exposed first hand to this language is extremely valuable. Some internship programs to China also offer Mandarin lessons to enhance your experience in China. Students taking advantage of an opportunity to learn Mandarin firsthand in China immediately give their resumes a boost with a hard language skill.

Professional experience in China has helped many students achieve success. CRCC Asia, a company specializing in international internship opportunities in China, has sent over 5,000 interns to China and 89% have found employment in a graduate level job after returning to their home country. More universities are recognizing the significance of internship experience in China, and China internship programs are regularly being added to international programs.

If you are looking for a study abroad experience that will help you gain a competitive edge in the job market, perhaps an international internship in China is the right fit for you.

Begin your search for internship programs in China:

CRCC Asia’s China Internship Program

ISA Internships in Shanghai

CAPA Part-time Internships in Shanghai

-Check with your university’s Study Abroad Office for internship program offerings!

For information on funding your internship abroad:

100,000 Strong

Gilman/Freeman Scholarships

-GoEnnounce

-Check with your university’s Study Abroad Office for other possible scholarship resources!

 

Guest Blogger:

 

Thao Le

Travel enthusiast and international education advocate, Thao works as University Partnerships Manager at CRCC Asia in San Francisco, where she helps connect universities and individual students with international opportunities in China.

Interning Abroad: Sydney, Australia

When I first received approval from Michigan’s Center for Global and Intercultural Study getting an internship abroad had not dawned on me. However along with the materials for moving forward for a semester abroad in Sydney was information about classes and an internship placement program. I filled out the application on a whim but was approved to take on an internship as my 4th academic course.

An internship abroad is a large commitment but can also be great if you aren’t going to be home for summer or just want to take advantage of business in an international realm. Continue reading

Yellow Yellow Limoncello: Internship in Sorrento

Sorrentine Limoncello

As a part of the study abroad program I am enrolled in, I am taking part in a 3 credit internship with the marketing department of a local Sorrentine Limoncello company.  For those of you who are not familiar with this traditional Italian digestivo (beverage consumed after dinner to aid digestion), Limoncello is an alcoholic beverage made from the peels of the Sorrento Lemon infused into pure alcohol with some sugar.  The lemon is known for its cleansing properties, and especially for its reputation as a digestive aid.  The Italians—who are endearingly known for their knowledge on how to treat your digestive system, evident in their rule that states no milk is to be consumed after 11 am—market this alcohol as “the perfect after-dinner drink.”  Continue reading