Bridging Continents With Student Internships

• An internship exchange by the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology placed Australian and Vietnamese students in roles in the same multinational company at different locations, immersing them in global business while developing their cultural intelligence.
• Delivered in partnership with National Australia Bank, the NABxRMIT Global Business Program provided students with real-world projects, mentorship, and opportunities for intercultural collaboration and professional development.
• The success of the program illustrates how strategically designed international internships can build institutional partnerships, strengthen unity across multiple campuses, and prepare students to thrive in a global workforce.

 
Human beings are more globally connected than ever before. Organizations across all industries are emphasizing international collaboration in their strategic goals as they seek to expand operations or services abroad. Business schools can prepare students for this heightened emphasis on cross-border collaboration by immersing them in other countries and cultures, via safe and guided education programs, in order to enhance their global perspectives and cultural intelligence (CQ).

In late 2024, College of Business and Law at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) in Australia launched a pilot student internship program designed to cultivate students’ cultural intelligence. The program was different from our past international initiatives because of its unusual format.

For the two-week cross-border program, undergraduate students from RMIT’s Melbourne campus completed internships in Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, while RMIT students from Vietnam who were studying abroad at the school’s campus in Australia completed the program in Melbourne. Because of visa restrictions, the students from Vietnam could not formally “intern,” but both groups completed program activities at the same multinational organization.

The students who participated in this initiative were all majoring in business information systems.—we focused on this discipline because cultural context and technological adoption are so closely linked. We believed developing global mindsets was especially important for this group of future leaders. 

Choosing the Right Partner

We knew that one of the best ways to offer students such an immersive cultural experience was to seek out an industry partner that also had a strong interest in developing global talent. With that in mind, we invited the National Australia Bank (NAB) to take part in an initiative focused on facilitating cross-border internships for students from RMIT’s campuses in Australia and Vietnam. The result of this effort was the NABxRMIT Global Business Program.

RMIT chose to base the student internships with NAB because it not only has a global presence, but it also has drastically increased its operations and size in Vietnam since establishing its Innovation Centre in Ho Chi Minh City in 2019. The company is now one of Australia’s largest private foreign investors in Vietnam.

By taking part in the collaboration, NAB also received substantial benefits. Through the internship program, the company did not just gain access to a pipeline of talent. It also was able to enhance its branding and corporate social responsibility, gain fresh perspectives through cross-cultural exchanges, and take advantage of having new and diverse individuals in the office. 

The Program’s Framework

We held the inaugural run of the program in November 2024. For two weeks, a group of Australian students interned at the NAB Innovation Centre, while a group of Vietnamese students concurrently completed internships at NAB’s Melbourne office. RMIT covered the costs of flights and accommodation for students traveling to Ho Chi Minh City.

By arranging for all students to intern within NAB, we could provide a more structured environment for learning and target our time and resources more effectively. Both groups of students engaged in real-world projects, gaining international exposure from within the same company but from two different cultural points of view.

In addition, during the two-week program, the two groups of students had the opportunity to come together in a virtual session, where they compared their experiences. After the program, NAB invited all the students together for a face-to-face meeting in its Melbourne office.

During their internships, students worked closely with the technology teams at NAB and learned directly from experienced business analysts as part of Starcamp, a boot camp at NAB that offers participants the chance to enter the company’s Emerging Technology Talent program. The initiative was timed to coincide with the onboarding of NAB’s new hires, so that RMIT students could join parts of the company’s induction program.

Both groups of students engaged in real-world projects, gaining international exposure from within the same company but from two different cultural points of view.

In addition, students were invited to participate in training, workshops, and communication efforts between the two corporate locations. This enabled students and NAB staff to meet and share experiences virtually and in real time.

Students from Australia received academic credit through a Business Internship elective course, and they completed additional coursework and assessments to further strengthen their learning and reflection. Students from Vietnam completed the program as an extracurricular activity to adhere to the working conditions required by their visas. 

Students interning in Vietnam also had the opportunity to receive an orientation at the RMIT Saigon South campus and attend Experience Day, a day that the university opened its campus to the public. This afforded the students from Australia exposure to the cultural context.

Providing Cultural Enrichment…

Of course, one of the biggest benefits of this pilot program was the international exposure that students received. Students from Australia immersed themselves in Vietnam’s vibrant life, social customs, and business practices; they also had the opportunity to join and contribute to activities at NAB focused on leadership development.

Similarly, students from Vietnam experienced Melbourne’s dynamic business environment, broadening their understanding of international markets and local ways of working. They also participated in social activities and tours of Victoria to gain a deeper appreciation for Australia’s cultural diversity.

As all the student participants engaged with peers from diverse backgrounds, they enhanced their communication and teamwork skills, broadened their global perspectives, and fostered lasting connections with classmates. They gained cultural insights from subtle practices as well, such as when their teams took lunch breaks together; throughout the program, they learned the importance of casual networking, investment in working relationships, and the development of a broader team mindset.   

…and Promoting Professional Development

Students acquired invaluable industry-specific knowledge as they applied theoretical learning to practical challenges. This hands-on experience was instrumental in shaping their career aspirations and developing their competencies in a multicultural setting.

Students relished the opportunity to work within NAB’s global network. Eshal Shoeb, a Melbourne student who interned in Ho Chi Minh City, particularly appreciated having the chance to “see the inner workings of a major financial institution.” The experience allowed her not only to view the field of finance through a Vietnamese lens, but also to “speak to both new starters and managers and gain insight into possible career paths.”

Three participants in the NABxRMIT Global Business Program stand before the National Australia Bank logo at its Melbourne office.

Kristine Phuong, a Vietnamese participant in the Melbourne program, appreciated “having direct access to industry professionals and mentors [who] provided invaluable career advice.” Joneth Pham, another Vietnamese student, told us that he valued the fact that interactions with NAB leaders “gave me a clear roadmap and head start in my career choice, alongside insights into the banking sector, and guidance on navigating corporate environments.”

Pham also appreciated the environment of “openness and inclusivity between coworkers, regardless of position” at NAB Melbourne. “Everyone communicated freely and supported one another,” he said. “This encouraged me to step out of my shyness, speak up more confidently, and actively contribute to discussions, improving both my communication skills and perspective on workplace collaboration.”

The Benefits of International Collaboration

We are finding that structured cross-border initiatives such as NABxRMIT are becoming more essential for preparing students to thrive in a globalized workforce. Only by experiencing different work cultures and practices, and applying their classroom knowledge in real-world settings, can students develop adaptability, cultivate cross-cultural competence, and learn to overcome the challenges of working across borders. 

Moreover, formal international internship programs position universities as forward-thinking, globally engaged entities, which helps them to attract prospective students, foster strong industry links, and open up new research opportunities. All of these activities substantially enrich the academic community.  

Only by experiencing different work cultures and practices can students learn to overcome the challenges of working across borders.

The NABxRMIT international internship exchange “isn’t just about travel, it’s about learning, growing, and making a real difference” through their contributions to an organization, says Chris Di Guilmi, acting head of careers at NAB. “This program not only enhances skills but also strengthens cross-cultural collaboration, reflecting NAB’s commitment to developing future leaders with a global outlook.”

Another benefit of the NABxRMIT pilot was that the program facilitated collaboration among RMIT’s internal staff on the Melbourne and Saigon South campuses, as teams worked together to coordinate the program. Through strong strategic planning and infrastructure design, program coordinators were in better positions to overcome the logistical hurdles of planning the cross-border internships. This strengthened camaraderie and deepened a sense of unity and pride across the university’s transnational network.   

A Call to Connect Cultures

Institutions can leverage their international industry partnerships to develop programs and long-term support systems that not only open up internship opportunities for students, but also drive other enriching international experiences. For instance, students gain a deeper appreciation of unfamiliar cultures and strengthen their language skills.

Working with international partners can also lead to greater future collaborations. NABxRMIT has led to a formal strategic partnership between NAB and RMIT, which was announced in January 2025. The partnership will largely focus on “offering students real-world experience through internships, fieldwork placements, and workplace simulations at NAB Vietnam.”

The success of our college’s inaugural NABxRMIT Global Business Program is a testament to the transformative power of international collaboration. By bridging cultural and professional divides, the program has enriched students’ academic journeys and equipped them with crucial skills for the future. RMIT plans to offer the program again at NAB and is in discussions to expand it to organizations in other parts of the world.

Although many business schools offer international internships, it is essential that these opportunities are deliberately designed and consistent with the school’s strategic goals. By delivering formal, ongoing internship programs with industry partners, business schools can re-shape their international internships so that they are embedded in their campus cultures and interconnected with industry.

In the process, we can strengthen our global relationships, connect cultures, and shape tomorrow’s global leaders!