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As part of Singapore Polytechnic’s commitment to nurturing globally minded graduates, Year 3 Chemical Engineering (DCHE) students Hasnain Gul and Eden Weng Xianyu completed a six‑month overseas internship at the National Institute of Technology, Ube College (Ube KOSEN), Japan. The programme comprised a three‑week preparatory phase in Singapore, 14 weeks of laboratory research in Japan, and a final five-week stint back in Singapore to complete reports and presentations.

Hasnain worked on Metal Organic Frameworks, while Eden focused on Downflow Hanging Sponge Reactors. Both projects pushed them to deepen their technical knowledge. Beyond the lab, living in Japan posed initial challenges due to language and cultural differences. However, through daily interaction and immersion, they developed resilience, independence and strong cross‑cultural awareness.

Hasnain reflected, “My time at Ube College was one that allowed me to be a traveller instead of a tourist. I wasn’t merely visiting new places, I was experiencing them, I didn’t just make friends, I made lifelong connections, and at the end of it all I found is I had grown in ways that I could never have imagined. A truly unforgettably authentic experience.”

Eden (top row, second from left), Hasnain (top row, third from left) and their college peers at the KOSEN Festival