Opportunity will present itself (Part 2)

I've previously looked at The University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus for a research project and made an enquiry to a young academic. She replied that she had no vacancy for a graduate student, and I stopped looking at Nottingham Malaysia.

Three months later, she forwarded a vacancy in another laboratory (in the same department) to my email. After looking at the job description and the academic's research profile, I was attracted to the nature and approach of his research and decided to give it a shot.

I was called for interview and what happened afterward is history. I can't thank God much enough for a good timing like this.

I started on 15 September 2014. Glad to be back in science!

Malaysian Youtuber JinnyboyTV pokes fun at internship

Many degree or diploma courses offered in Malaysia today include internship or industrial training as part of the programme to "enhance the employability" of students once they graduate. Internship may also count towards academic credit required for graduation. But, does this work experience live up to its name?

Contrary to expectations of gaining valuable experience in the actual workplace, what I heard are stories all pointing to the defeat of the purpose of internship. Stories of interns made to photocopy papers or prepare food for boss is so common lah.

The satirical video by JinnyboyTV says it all. It's named "Internsh*t".

Indeed, unpaid internship experience is now clouded by increasing controversy. This is attributed to laws surrounding internship does not provide clear guidelines and their non-enforcement (US context).

But students are not so lucky in Malaysia. Internship is not sanctioned by labour laws, therefore irresponsible companies are free to exploit interns as they wish. A fellow user in Lowyat.net posted:

I do find it a bit absurd about this internship program in Malaysia, the students have no right in saying 'no' to any company the university has assigned them to, they are not allowed to ask about pay or even allowance, they are to work according to what the company told them to, they are not protected by law or even insurance, they are not entitled to medical leave(s), overtime pay & so forth. A conclusion from myself: They are just a bunch of cheap, if not free, unprotected labour of Malaysia. 

You can read more inside a thread at Lowyat.net here.

Do you think internships should be governed by law?