On 3 February 2024 (Saturday), more than 70 youths, including students from pre-tertiary institutions and universities, attended the Chinese New Year gathering co-organised by Business China and OSG Youth Alliance. The event was held at Singapore Management University.
In addition to networking over Chinese New Year goodies and a sumptuous lunch, attendees had the chance to hear from four youths with varied experiences and insights relating to Singapore and China. Furthermore, they were introduced to a range of exciting youth programmes from representatives of Business China’s Go East division, OSG Youth Alliance, and the National Youth Council.
Read on to find out key highlights from each sharing:
Youth Interns Exchange Scheme
Go East Director Dr Fong Yeow Wah introduced the Youth Interns Exchange Scheme (YES) which allows up to 500 Singaporean youths and 500 Chinese youths to participate in internship programmes in the other’s country for up to six months.
The scheme will allow Singaporean youths to gain experience working in China, and a deeper appreciation of its economy and rich culture. It will also enable them to foster new friendships and ties. Similarly, Chinese youths will be able to gain a better understanding of Singapore and build networks here.
He also reminded attendees that if they wish to join the scheme, it would be a good idea to get a head start of at least four months as the application process to an ideal company may take some time.
Interning in Singapore under YES
For YES Chinese interns Zhang Yangsen and Zhang Sirui, their impressions of life in Singapore and local cultures have become much more multi-faceted and in-depth after working here for a few months.
Arriving here in the midst of a rainy season, Sirui was pleasantly surprised that Singapore was not always the sweltering island he had imagined. He was also struck by the culture of flat hierarchies in the workplace, and a more relaxed office culture. Reflecting on his three months here, he was glad of the opportunities to meet business leaders, and senior officials that he would have been unlikely to encounter if he had not seized this internship.
Inspired by the friendships and kindness he had experienced in Singapore, he even recited a few poems to the audience, drawing laughter with his casual interpretations.
Yangsen who had started her internship here earlier, had had the opportunity to visit various university campuses in Singapore. She provided younger peers in the audience comparisons of campuses in Singapore versus China, commenting on the grandeur of the buildings in Chinese university campuses, and the more exploratory designs of campus buildings in Singapore such as that of LASALLE College of the Arts, and the Hive at NTU.
With her own and her friends’ internships in China as references, she gave further insight on the differences in Singapore/China internships across the areas of job difficulty, job intensity, work culture, and welfare.
She was also pleased to share that she had deepened friendships with friends in Singapore, who showed her around.
Studying in Chinese universities
Business China Youth Chapter (BCYC) members Cheng Wanli and Tan Jie Yi both had an experience of a lifetime pursuing tertiary education in China.
As young adults who have gone through the whole process of applications, studies, graduation, and coming back to find jobs, they shared useful snippets of campus life to aspiring students within the audience. For example, Jie Yi reassured the attendees that security was not a concern as entry to her dormitory was guarded by a face-recognition gantry.
They also illustrated a vibrant school life, as they night cycled, travelled, volunteered, performed and more over their few years spent in China. At the end of it all, regardless of whether they did their studies in Beijing or Shanghai, both had great improvements in their Mandarin, gained greater exposure to the everyday side of Chinese culture, and also acquired many new connections to peers in China and beyond.
If you’re interested in our next youth event, stay tuned to our social media accounts!
Instagram: @businesschinasingapore
This event was proudly co-organised by Business China and OSG Youth Alliance, supported by National Youth Council and Singapore Management University.