Hello

 
 I'm impressed by your company and would like to invite you to participate in an internship program that I run.

 There are many technology startup companies in my stable including Altosoft, iMeet, iFax Solutions, UGMO, etc, who have had good experiences with the interns from Singapore.

 

Here's a description of the internship program that I run. I would love to hear if this will be beneficial to you.

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Most companies are familiar with Drexel University's nationally known internship program. Yet few companies are familiar with the National University of Singapore's internship program.  NUS has a partnership with the University of Pennsylvania to educate aspiring entrepreneurs and business leaders from Singapore, a nation, the US has had a long and successful partnership, along with providing them with real world experiences.  Please contact Yu Ling Tok for additional information. She can be reached at (215) 966-6083 or by email at yuling@nus.edu.sg.

 

What type of companies do you look to place your students?

 

"Hi-tech and bio-tech startups- 0-8years old, less than 30 employees, has exciting new product, 1 hour max train commute from Philadelphia"

 

How do you select your students?

 

"They go through 2 rounds of interviews in Singapore. They are selected based on their interest in becoming a tech entrepreneur. They are top 20% students in school."

 

What are the student's backgrounds?

 

"Our students have the following academic backgrounds-Engineering- Electrical,, Mechanical, Bio, Chemical, Computer Science, Life Science, Biology, Pharmacy, Business, Social Sciences."

 

Do the companies get to select the students or do you assign them?

 

"The companies interview students by phone or skype."

 

Are there any legal issues companies have to be aware of?

 

Companies will be host companies for the program in order that the interns can apply to www.ciee.org <http://www.ciee.org/ <http://www.ciee.org/> >  our visa sponsor, for the J-1 trainee visa to come to the US to intern.

 

Do companies have to provide health insurance or transportation?

 

"No, students come with their own travel insurance and they pay to come to and from work."

 

How long are the internships and what does it cost a company to hire an intern?

 

"The internships are 12 months and the companies pay only $1,600 a month, which is very inexpensive to get mature highly educated bi-lingual student interns."

 

What do the interns learn through the internship?

 

"Basically how a startup runs itself.  This ranges from how a company operates, makes decisions on strategic directions related to marketing, sales, product development."

 

How many students do you typically have in the program each year?

 

"We typically bring in 30 a year.  They arrive in two waves-15 come in Jan and 15 in August."

 

What industries have your students worked in?

 

"We focus solely on technology related companies because our students are studying engineering, science and computer science and we want them to learn about how to start their own companies."

 

What are some of your success stories?

 

"We have many success stories and here are two of them.  One is a partnership with Scientific Software Tools http://www.sstnet.com/ <http://www.sstnet.com/>  Elise Furman, President, has been and continues to be an excellent mentor to our students. She provides them with ample opportunities to learn about her company by taking them along with her when she sees clients and potential clients, giving them responsibilities in email marketing, company website and press releases. She often shares with her interns her thoughts about the company and where she wants to bring it.

 

"Another is a partnership with Neat Receipts (www.neatco.com <http://www.neatco.com/ <http://www.neatco.com/> > ).  One of our students, Sarabjit Singh, who interned at Neat Receipts started Neat Receipts Asia sales office in Singapore since 2006."

 

Yu Ling Tok (Mrs)

Program Director

NUS America Inc

3701 Market Street 4th floor

Philadelphia PA 19104

Website: http://www.overseas.nus.edu.sg/colleges_bioValley_intro.htm