Name of Student: Mengyan Wen
Job Title: Research Assistant: Extra-curricular robotics in primary schools
Company Name: University of Exeter HASS
Description of Organisation:
The University of Exeter is a public research university located in Exeter, Devon, South West England. It is one of the top 150 universities in the world and ranked among the top 15 universities in the United Kingdom. The university offers exciting courses in beautiful and historic surroundings. It is a member of the UK’s prestigious Russell Group of leading research universities.
What was your biggest achievement on your internship?
During my internship, my biggest achievement was gaining hands-on experience in an educational setting, particularly learning to work on how an education charity works. I successfully collected and analysed data for a project, which sharpened my research and analytical skills.
Were there any challenges and how did you overcome these?
One of the key challenges I faced was adapting to a professional environment where language proficiency and cultural awareness were crucial. As an international intern, I initially struggled with understanding and effectively communicating in a work setting that required high levels of English proficiency. To overcome this, I actively sought out opportunities to improve my language skills by participating in meetings. By embracing these challenges, I enhanced my language proficiency and cultural awareness, which allowed me to perform better in my role.
What were your reasons for undertaking this internship?
- To gain experience and knowledge within a specific occupation or field.
- To improve my job prospects by expanding my CV and what I can draw upon in interviews.
- To earn money.
As a result of my internship…
- I have improved my communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills.
- My job prospects have improved by expanding my CV and what I can draw upon in
interviews.
- I have learned more about the skills I need and the options available to me in the future.
- I have developed specific skills that could help me in the future.
- My overall confidence has increased.
During the internship…
- I received learning and development opportunities which could be helpful for my career (e.g., online courses, research development or mentoring).
- I was able to complete the tasks assigned to me.
- I received regular feedback from my manager/supervisor.
- I received sufficient training to undertake the role.
- Overall, this internship has been a positive experience.
Would you recommend this internship scheme to other students?
Yes, I would recommend this internship scheme to other students as it helps you to build important skills such as communication and research, it boosts your job prospects and is a great networking opportunity.