Going abroad

I completed my internship at Universitat Politecnica Catalunya (UPC) with the in-house, Barcelona Innovative Transportation (BIT) group. My research complemented the efforts of the European Cultural Road Project by integrating Connected Cooperative Automated Mobility (CCAM) with public transportation in Karlsruhe, Germany and its subsequent impact on transport accessibility and overall equity. I gained valuable experience in coding, Python and R/ script, GIS and transport equity analysis. I was able to apply several concepts from the theoretical courses in the first semester at UHasselt which made this research that much more intriguing. One of my biggest highlights was attending conferences in Barcelona such as the Smart City Expo and Carnet Road Safety Conference where I got to network with several mobility experts around the world. This was a major step in my career as a transportation planner and I'm incredibly fortunate for this experience, especially in such a mobility focused city like Barcelona.

I highly recommend you make the decision to intern abroad! No matter where you go and who you work for, you will meet amazing people, experience new things, and learn more than you could ever imagine!

My host organization was the University of the Philippines – National Center for Transportation Studies (UP NCTS). It is a public and government education and transportation research center in the Philippines. The center aims to contribute to national development growth through supporting academic instruction, conducting and promoting scholarly research, training and information, and other services in the field of transportation. 

My primary responsibility was to conduct and create a research study on their existing study topics on children's road safety education and motorcycle driver behaviour in the country. Part of the task was to lay out the introduction and research questions, conduct a literature review, and prepare the methodology on how to conduct the data collection of the study. 

I really valued the conversations and discussions I had with colleagues and supervisor wherein we brainstormed, and they gave feedback on my output. They also shared their professional track, which inspired me on how I could potentially progress in my career. My internship experience also updated me on the transportation scenario of my home country. 

My advice is to do your research on what organizations really specialize in your field. Conduct a meeting with them; you will get an idea of how fruitful your internship could possibly be if, during the meetings, they are very responsive, and they have existing study topics that you could work on while you are with them.

I had the privilege of interning at the Sub-Directorate of Safety Management, Ministry of Transportation of the Republic of Indonesia. My internship focused on evaluating and improving School Safety Zones to enhance pedestrian safety for schoolchildren. My responsibilities included conducting field surveys, analyzing vehicle speeds and traffic volume, and engaging with stakeholders such as school administrators and local transport authorities.

During my internship, one of the most memorable moments was conducting spot speed surveys in active school zones. I observed firsthand the real challenges of ensuring child safety in high-traffic areas. Seeing how my data could improve school zone safety made theexperience rewarding.

This internship greatly impacted my personal and professional growth by enhancing my research skills, deepening my understanding of real-world transportation safety challenges, and strengthening my ability to collaborate with stakeholders. It also reaffirmed my passion for transportation safety and public policy, shaping my future career aspirations.

For students considering an internship abroad, I recommend being proactive, open-minded, and ready to embrace new challenges. The experience builds technical skills and broadens your perspective on how transportation policies are applied in different contexts.

I was given the opportunity to carry out my internship at VTI, the Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute.

In our class of 18 people, I was that weird guy that wanted to go abroad, and more particularly to Sweden. Several times, I got questions from surprised people who were wondering why I would travel so far or to a cold and dark country. However, from my previous time in Sweden, I know that while the days may be cold and dark, the people that live there are the exact opposite. And this was once again confirmed during my stay in Norrköping and Linköping.

In fact, I am grateful to all the people at VTI, for their time and support and also for introducing me to the Swedish fika tradition. I will have a hard time adapting back to the Belgian culture.

I did my internship at Lund University, in the Transport and Roads department, specifically working with the railway group. Our primary focus was on optimizing train dwell time, and conducting a study on alighting and boarding behavior at Lund C. I got to fly drones to film trains at Lund C. After that, I spent a lot of time watching those videos and entering data for further in-depth analysis.

The best part was getting to meet some amazing people. Everyone at Lund University, was super friendly and helpful. Going to the 12th Annual Swedish Transport Research Conference in 2023 at KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm was a highlight. I got to meet academics from Scandinavian countries. The insights gained from this experience are invaluable and are poised to positively impact my future career.

For anyone thinking about interning abroad, be ready to start from zero. It might seem tough at first, but facing those challenges will help you grow. Plus, you'll make some great connections that could shape your future plans. It's definitely worth giving it a try.

I did my internship at the Group Truck Technology (GTT) division of Volvo Group in Gothenburg, Sweden. 

It was my responsibility to conduct an in-depth crash study between Heavy Good Vehicles (HGVs) and Vulnerable Road Users (VRUs). The aim was to learn more about the different interactions between these two types of road users and investigate how safety systems could be used to make these scenarios safe.

There were many memorable moments during my internship in Sweden. I had the opportunity to look behind the scenes of one of the biggest companies in the world. Test tracks, crash test facilities, engine facilities, prototype vehicles and much more. I also had the chance to travel around Sweden, meet new people and learn from them. My work made a valuable contribution to the company and they offered me the opportunity to become a "real" member of the team after graduation. It is a kind of leverage and reference that can be used when other companies are interested in hiring you.

During my internship, I developed more confidence and assertiveness. This is something I need to maintain in my future career and personal life. Although I still have a lot to learn, my work at Volvo has enriched both my general and specific knowledge in my field of interest. The work environment showcases, confirms, triggers and utilises my interests to benefit my department. I can only recommend starting this incredible journey and taking this opportunity. Learn from the mistakes you make because they will be helpful for the rest of your life and career. Your internship can confirm your interests or show you that a different career path might be more valuable to you. Either way, it is really valuable. Choosing to do your internship abroad can set you apart from other candidates because of the lessons you have learned and the growth you have made as a person.