TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Students often choose internships abroad as a way to develop skills and experience through direct involvement with an international company or organization, while still having all the fun of overseas adventures. But things don't always go as planned. A recent example is the human trafficking syndicate that ensnares Indonesians through internship scams.

In order to avoid this, it is important to choose an educational institution that has an official internship program in place. Citing goabroad, here are 5 official internship programs currently available:

1. IES Abroad

Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, IES Abroad sends over 6,000 college-age students abroad annually. With 130+ academic and internship programs across 30+ destinations, they also offer US$2.5 million in merit-based scholarships and grants. Students can choose from various housing options and attend classes with local students.

2. CIEE

CIEE is a 65-year-old nonprofit organization that provides study abroad and work exchange programs for high school and college students. College students can select from almost 200 programs in 40 countries, while high school students can opt for cultural exchanges in 11 countries including Australia, Chile, France, Ireland, Japan, Spain, Brazil, China, Germany, Italy, and New Zealand. CIEE students attend local high schools and live with local host families. The organization provides more than US$3 million in scholarships and grants annually.

3. CISabroad

CIS Abroad provides study abroad programs, international internships, and summer programs in 19 countries across Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Latin America, Asia, South Africa, and Hawaii. They offer a range of fields of study, including science, technology, mathematics, social sciences, and the fine and performing arts. Host institutions vary from large English-language universities to smaller culturally-based learning centers. CISabroad also offers overseas studies’ scholarships and financial aid counseling.

4. AIFS Study Abroad

The American Institute for Foreign Study (AIFS) is a leader in cultural exchange and international education. Since its founding in 1964, AIFS has sent over 1.5 million people abroad. Each year, it grants over US$800,000 in scholarships to deserving students and universities for summer and semester programs. AIFS offers programs in 20 countries, including South America, Australia, New Zealand, Europe, India, and South Africa. High school students can choose programs in Costa Rica, France, Spain, or Italy.

5. CEA

CEA was founded in 1997 with the goal of facilitating study abroad opportunities for U.S. and Canadian college-age students interested in global issues. They send thousands of students abroad each year to countries like Argentina, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, England, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, South Africa, and Spain. CEA dedicates over US$2 million annually to financial aid and scholarships, in addition to offering free scholarship information resources.

MYESHA FATINA RACHMAN

Editor's Choice: Over 1,000 Indonesian Students Become Victims of Human Trafficking in German Internship Scam

Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News