MyASEANinternship 2016 Student Intake Exceeds First-Year Figures, Sees Increased Employer Participation

KUALA LUMPUR, 24 June 2016 – The Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) and Talent Corporation Malaysia (TalentCorp) today announced that the student intake for the myASEANinternship programme this year has exceeded its first-year figures, reaching almost 50 interns as of 23 June 2016 compared to a total number of 40 interns last year. 

Currently in its second year, myASEANinternship has on its roster close to 30 leading Malaysian and multinational companies offering regional internships to top young talent across ASEAN – more than double the number of employers who participated in the programme’s debut year. 

PwC, Unilever, IKEA, Group M, and MITI have joined the ranks as myASEAN employers alongside AirAsia, Axiata, CIMB, Digi, Maybank and UEM Group, to name a few.  Altogether, these employers offer up to 100 internship placements this year, up from over 40 placements last year. 

A collaboration between MITI and TalentCorp, myASEANinternship was launched by Minister of International Trade and Industry YB Dato' Sri Mustapa Mohamed on 26 January 2015 to increase overall awareness on ASEAN among youth in Malaysia. The programme enables high-achieving Malaysian students from local and overseas universities to intern with leading employers at various ASEAN locations. Meanwhile, ASEAN nationals studying at Malaysian universities are able to intern in Malaysia. The programme is also open to fresh graduates within six months of graduation. 

myASEANinternship has received overwhelming response both in Malaysia and overseas. From last November up to end May 2016, over 900 students and fresh graduates from nine ASEAN countries – including Malaysia, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, Singapore and Vietnam – have submitted applications to be part of the myASEANinternship experience.

“Two years ago, I challenged TalentCorp to come up with something to provide opportunities for our young men and women. They came back to me within a few weeks with a proposal, which we launched early last year as the myASEANinternship programme. I’m pleased to say we have gone from 12 participating companies and an initial group of 40 interns in the first year, to almost 30 companies and the participation of no less than 250 students at the myASEAN Market Day 2016 in April,” said YB Dato’ Sri Mustapa. 

He was speaking to students at the ASEAN Youth Leadership Workshop organised by TalentCorp in Lanai Kijang, Kuala Lumpur. The three-day workshop, which finishes tomorrow, precedes the July 2016 intake of myASEANinternship which will place the students from Malaysia and other ASEAN nations in companies throughout the region. The myASEAN Market Day, meanwhile, was organised on 21 April 2016 to provide applicants the opportunity to meet, impress and earn a spot with one of the myASEANinternship employers. 

TalentCorp CEO Shareen Shariza Dato’ Abdul Ghani said, “I would like to thank YB Dato’ Sri Mustapa for being the inspiration and guiding force behind this programme. With the personal support of YB Dato’ Sri, MITI and the leading employers, I am certain myASEANinternship will provide top talent the chance to build their international careers right here in Malaysia.” 

For more information on the myASEANinternship programme, visit www.talentcorp.com.my/en/our-initiatives/for-students-graduates/myaseaninternship/.