As the world becomes more and more interconnected, the traditional classroom setting is no longer enough to prepare students for the complexities of today’s global workforce. To gain a competitive edge, students like Benjamin Pappas, a master’s student at George Washington University (GWU), are turning to international internships. These opportunities offer more than just academic enrichment – they provide hands-on experience in diverse settings that foster both professional and personal growth.
Benjamin’s journey with the help of Next Step Connections exemplifies the growing trend of students seeking real-world applications for their academic studies in international settings.
With a concentration in international law and organizations, Benjamin had spent years studying institutions like the United Nations and the World Bank. However, it wasn’t until he stepped outside the classroom and into an internship in Japan that he truly began to understand the intricacies of global governance and environmental policy.
For Benjamin, the chance to intern at the Usami Laboratory at Kyoto University was more than just an academic exercise; it was a career-defining experience. Specializing in environmental policy, his internship allowed him to apply the theoretical knowledge he gained at GWU to practical, real-world problems. “The academic articles I read, the literature review and research design I made, the way I formulated my research presentation and presented it to the lab members – it all felt like a natural extension to the years of reading and writing I have done as first an undergraduate, and now, a graduate student,” Benjamin shared.
According to a report by the Institute of International Education, students who participate in study abroad programs often find themselves more employable, with a greater ability to adapt to multicultural work environments. In particular, internships in Asia, where countries like Japan and China are pivotal players on the global stage, give students a unique advantage in understanding the cultural and economic dynamics of the region.
Benjamin’s story mirrors a broader trend in higher education: the increasing importance of Asia in shaping global career opportunities. Next Step Connections, an Asia-based organization, has long understood the significance of this region in preparing students for the future workforce. By offering placements in major Asian economies, they provide students with the chance to not only learn but thrive in diverse, international environments.
While many universities offer expansive study abroad programs, they often struggle to fully prepare students for the intricacies of living and working abroad, especially post-pandemic when resources are spread thin. This is where organizations like Next Step Connections step in, providing support in areas that universities can’t always cover. For Benjamin, this included securing housing, transportation, and cultural immersion activities in addition to his internship placement. These details may seem small, but they make the difference between a smooth, enriching experience versus one filled with logistical challenges.
“The most important support Next Step Connections provided was facilitating the internship acquisition process, as well as providing housing,” Benjamin explained. “They took care of the complicated parts of living abroad, from housing to SIM cards, making it easy for me to focus on my work.”
Beyond logistical support, Next Step Connections also offers a hands-on approach to ensure that students are placed in valuable, meaningful internships. Their network extends from small startups to large corporations, allowing them to carefully match students with internships that align with their academic and career goals. For Benjamin, the opportunity to work alongside PhD students from around the world was an eye-opening experience, exposing him to diverse perspectives and a global community of researchers.
Benjamin’s experience highlights a growing educational shift: the move toward experiential learning. Internships like the one he completed in Japan offer something that traditional classroom learning simply cannot – real-world problem-solving, collaboration across cultures, and the ability to apply academic knowledge in professional settings.
A 2022 study by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) found that students who participate in internships or experiential learning programs have higher employment rates post-graduation than those who do not. Benjamin’s story reflects this, as his internship not only gave him hands-on experience but also changed the trajectory of his career aspirations.
“As a current master’s student, the natural next step in my academic journey, should I choose to pursue it, would be to enroll in a PhD program,” Benjamin shared. “Being able to work alongside PhD students and talk to them about their experiences in research made me realize that I want to begin working after I graduate and gain more real-world experience before potentially continuing in academia.”
Internships abroad also promote cultural adaptability, a skill that is increasingly valuable in a globalized workforce. Benjamin’s internship in Japan wasn’t just about his research – it was about navigating a new culture, meeting people from around the world, and stepping outside his comfort zone. These are the kinds of experiences that shape not just careers but lives.
Programs like the ones offered by Next Step Connections are also at the forefront of promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), values that are as important to universities as they are to employers. In Benjamin’s case, the laboratory he worked in was an international melting pot of students from Japan, China, Italy, Iran, Indonesia, and beyond. This diversity of perspectives enriched his research and gave him a more holistic view of the world, one that will undoubtedly serve him well in future professional endeavors.
