An Indonesian internship – from Australia?

How does one undertake a virtual internship? Am I going to make an impact at the organisation? Will I be able to experience the culture of Indonesia fully?

These were just some of the questions that I had before I embarked on one of my most fulfilling experiences since beginning my studies.

As part of my internship I was placed in a group with fellow UTS interns and an amazing Indonesian student; a team that would come together to create and deliver a high-performance cricket program. Our team was paired with Persatuan Cricket Indonesia who are the official representatives of Indonesian Cricket for the International Cricket Council (ICC). As part of the internship we were required to produce a high-performance training program that would improve the competitiveness of cricket across the provinces. 

From this experience some of the skills that I have gained are patience, time management, and adaptability.

• Patience and time management – One of the things to know about Indonesian culture is that things happen at a much slower pace than here in Australia. During the internship, I learnt really quickly of Indonesian time; which was relaxed and fluid. Before I was used to asking a question and getting an answer within the next hour. If I was assigned a task; I would complete it as soon as possible. However this internship gave me the opportunity to slow down and taught me how to spread things out and not do everything within the first hour.
• Adaptability – Being able to adjust our approach to the task according to the interviews we had with Coaches from various provinces allowed us to be successful in delivering the high-performance training program.

All in all, the decision to embark on the virtual internship was one of the most fulfilling choices I have ever made. From the cultural experiences of virtual tours and movie nights, to meeting and discussing various aspects of training with some of the best coaches in the world – this was an experience I would highly endorse and encourage anyone considering it to take the opportunity. You won’t regret it.

“All in all, the decision to embark on the virtual internship was one of the most fulfilling choices I have ever made. From the cultural experiences of virtual tours and movie nights, to meeting and discussing various aspects of training with some of the best coaches in the world – this was an experience I would highly endorse and encourage anyone considering it to take the opportunity. You won’t regret it.”

Jonathan

5 reasons to take on a virtual internship 

1. You’ll experience another culture from your bedroom (workspace).
2. You’ll gain the opportunity to make an impact to the inner workings of an organisation.
3. You’ll creatively apply what you know and develop it further.
4. You’ll improve your professional soft skills.
5. You’ll make friends from across the world.

Jonathan Kinezos
Bachelor of Health Science

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