Temasek Design School believes in preparing design students to be consummate design professionals, ready to fit into the demands of industry upon graduation. The Student Internship Programme immerses students into the work environment and experience of the design industry, both locally and overseas. Students spend 8 weeks in various design firms, as part of the staff. The students on both local and overseas internship schemes are paid a nominal sum and are graded on their work performance.
Because of the practical nature of the programme, students learn to apply classroom theory to practice in a real-world environment. Life skills, such as time management, interpersonal communication, leadership skills, networking and so on, are also applied and learnt.
By the time the internship period is over, students would have gotten a good feel of what working life in the design field is like. Generally, they become more confident and independent as well. This is particularly so for students on the Overseas Student Internship Programme (OSIP).
Overseas Student Internship Programme (OSIP)
Students in Temasek Design School may opt to take on their internship stint overseas. Anticipating the impact of exponential growth in design practices on a regional level, the strategic focus of our OSIP includes countries as Taiwan, Japan, China, India, Vietnam and Malaysia. Living and working in a foreign country, immersed in a new culture, far away from family and familiarity is an intense but invaluable meaningful learning experience for students who go on OSIP.
The different work ethics and design cultures all contribute to a vivid learning experience. Koh Xuan Yi, of the Interior Architecture and Design course was based in Shanghai for two months and worked with the Shanghai Xian Dai Architectural Design Group. She said: "I am glad to have the opportunity for this attachment. Not only have I gained knowledge but also a valuable cultural exchange."
The employers who take them on also have good things to say. Mr Yasuaki Oshima of Hayashi Telempu Co. Pte Ltd from Nagoya Japan, had this to say about Product and Industrial Design student Greg Tan: "He has affluent design ideas. Excellent sense of design. Even though the assignment was challenging and demanding, he did his best to complete the task, which was great. Besides that, it was also very impressive that he actively learnt some Japanese words to communicate with the other Japanese workers in the office."
