Have you ever heard the saying, “experience is the best teacher?” Studies have shown that students who go through internships are able to picture and relate better to the topics and theories discussed in their classes. Many students also admit that their internship was the highlight of their college life. This is especially true for schools, like Enderun Colleges, that offer their students various internship opportunities in foreign countries.

For the most part, students must fulfil at least 300 hours of internship before graduating – some courses even require two sets of internship. Here’s a list on why an internship abroad can be the best thing that has ever happened to you in college:

1. Expand Your Horizons

By going abroad, you literally expand your horizons. Being in a place where you’ve never been before and working in an environment that is new to you will add more global insight and experience to your repertoire. This will be your opportunity to put all those theories you learned in the classroom to good use, while comparing those powerpoint presentations to real-life work.

2. Immerse in a New Culture

Nowadays, you may have been advised to always “have a global mindset”. By doing an internship abroad, you will be able to experience a new culture and perhaps even learn a new language, which you can add to your skills list. Research has revealed that learning and experiencing a new culture gives a person a better understanding of the world, promotes more effective communication, helps break down stereotypes and allows a person to be more patient and accepting of personal differences.

3. Extend Your Network

Doing an internship abroad not only helps you expand your social network, but it helps you enrich and extend your professional network. Having a global network provides you with broader career opportunities not just in your home city but in different parts of the world – don’t forget to ask for recommendation letters when it’s time for you to apply for a real job! Working in a different county will help you gain more insight into the industry that you have chosen for your future career.

4. Build Your Resume

Not only do you get to travel, you get work experience. Many fresh graduates find that what they lack in landing job is having any or enough work experience. By doing an internship, you not only get to write that down on your resume, you can also proudly say that you’ve worked in a different country for a specific amount of time in some esteemed or international establishment.

5. Grow as an Individual

Many students who come out of international internships return home with new improvements and discoveries about themselves. Living alone in a foreign country pushes you to become more independent and responsible, while simultaneously furthering your survival skills and boosting your self-confidence. Working overseas helps you grow as a person where you will come to realise more about yourself and what you want and don’t want in life. This personal knowledge is what will groom you to success and set you apart from the rest.

Are you ready to do your next internship abroad?