Work Study Elective

Overview

The MGMT346: Global Trade and Maritime Work-Study Elective (WSE) is a close collaboration between ITI@SMU and our industry partners to provide students with an opportunity to undergo a five-month (20-week) extended local internship programme within global trading and maritime industries. With the WSE, students can explore business functions within the trading and maritime industry and gain insights about the value chain.

In this programme, students will work for four (4) days a week at a host company and return to campus for one (1) day of classes during their school term.

Students may enroll in up to 2 additional courses while taking this elective, provided that there is no conflict with their work schedule.

WSE is a Pass/Fail module. Students will be awarded 2 CUs upon successful fulfilment of the WSE and satisfactory completion of a final report. Please be reminded that as part of SMU's degree requirement, a minimum of 21 CUs taken must count towards GPA.

Upon completion of the programme requirements, students with the International Trading Track (ITT) &/or Maritime Business and Operations Track (MBOT) who completed the internships with ITI Industry Partners will receive the ITI Excellence Award of S$5,000. T&Cs apply.

The MGMT346 Global Trade and Maritime Work-Study Elective (WSE) is managed by ITI as a course under the business school (LKCSB). 

Benefits

What's in it for our WSE Industry Partners:

  • Tap on a pool of digitally savvy talent who are able to provide fresh perspectives and innovate your business solutions.
  • Contribute to the success of the next generation by developing their knowledge and skills for the fast-changing global business environment.
  • Empower your staff to mentor future talent, thus honing their leadership skills.
  • Cultivate sustainability by having ready talent join your ecosystem.
  • To contribute to developing human capital and knowledge, so that Singapore will maintain its position as a leading international trading, maritime, and logistics hub.

What's in it for Students:

  • Develop strong working relationships and gain experience to secure full-time positions upon graduation.
  • Transform businesses by giving Fresh Perspectives and Innovative Business Solutions.
  • Option to clear up to 2 CUs worth of additional modules while completing your WSE internship.

Eligibility

  • This elective is open to all Year 2, Year 3 and Year 4 students across disciplines;
  • Must have good academic standing (not under Academic Probation or Academic Notice);
  • Must have no prior disciplinary records;

Please read through detailed instructions on OASIS and MGMT346 Course Outline for the expected deliverables.

Note: Only ITT / MBOT graduates who have completed WSE with ITI Industry Partners will be eligible for the ITI Excellence Award of S$5,000. T&Cs apply.

With effect from Dec 2023, the Work-Study Elective WSE Award is now known as ITI Excellence Award. More information on Recipients of the ITI Excellence Award, can be found here: Excellence Awards | International Trading Institute​​​​​​​

  • Asill Singh Bardh (ADM Asia Pacific Trading Pte Ltd, Jun - Dec 2021)*
  • Mihir Malhotra (A.P. Moller Maersk Singapore Pte Ltd, Jun - Dec 2021)*
  • Sangker Jeevan (Phillips 66 International Trading Pte Ltd, Jun - Dec 2021)*
  • Tan Rui Yang (A.P. Moller Maersk Singapore Pte Ltd, Jun - Dec 2021)*
  • Nhway Nhway Khin Soe (Klaveness Asia Pte Ltd, Jun - Dec 2021)*
  • Kyaw Myo Khant (A.P. Moller Maersk Singapore Pte Ltd, Jun - Dec 2021)*
* Only awarded to the pioneer batch of 2021 WSE interns who fulfilled conditional requirements as determined by ITI.

  • Manasa Vallabhaneni (Emirates National Oil Company (S) Pte Ltd, Aug - Dec 2022)
  • Nicholas Johnson (Bunge Asia Pte Ltd, Aug - Dec 2022)
  • Yong James Yoon (Emirates National Oil Company (S) Pte Ltd, Aug - Dec 2022)

FAQ

Students will be assigned an SMU Faculty Advisor and will be required to submit a final report to the Faculty Advisor at the end of the elective. Students must receive a Pass from industry partner/supervisor's appraisal. The MGMT346 Global Trade and Maritime Work-Study Elective is a 2-CU Pass/Fail module.

The WSE is held during a regular school term and may extend into the summer/winter vacation. Students will work at least 4 days with an industry partner and study on campus for up to 1 day each week (2 half-days are allowed). As this is a graded module, students do not need to take any leave of absence (LOA) or delay their graduation to take up the WSE. The period of the WSE internship is a minimum of 20 weeks.

Students can bid for up to 2 more CUs (i.e. bid for up to 2 other CUs but schedule-wise, it needs to fit into your internship schedule. For example, if the WSE is Mon-Thu, the class you bid for should not clash with your schedule). 

Students may download brochure above or refer to ISIS Class Catalogue for the WSE course outline (MGMT 346).

The course area(s) mentioned below, if any, serve only as a generic guide to the possible area(s) this course may fall under. 

·      Maritime Business and Operations Track Elective.
·      International Trading Track Elective (For AY2019 intake onwards)
·      Business Options / Free Elective.

Important Note: This course will NOT fulfill the course areas of Finance Major Elective / Operations Management Major Elective. 

Undergraduate students should verify the actual mapping of the course areas by updating their curriculum worksheet and running the degree progress report (Course List What-If) before enrolling for the course.

Please refer to the BBM Academic Handbook for the relevant major and track requirements. For International Trading Track (ITT) students who enrol in MGMT346 to fulfil the Track elective will have to take 1 additional Finance Major Elective to fulfil the major's requirement.

For Maritime Business & Operations Track (MBOT) students who enrol in 2 CUs from Trade Finance and/or MGMT346 to fulfil the Track elective requirement, they will have to take 1 additional CU of Operations Management Major Elective to fulfil the major's requirement.

As per the University's WSE guidelines, students may enroll in up to 2 modules (2 CUs) during the same term. This is to ensure a manageable work and study load within the term for the student. It also enables students to achieve optimal learning from the WSE. The class and exam timetable of the 2 CUs must not clash with the WSE work commitments.

However, students can appeal for an increased term load, and it will be reviewed carefully on a case-by-case basis.

At the end of the WSE, students are required to submit a Work-Study Final Report to the SMU Faculty Advisor.

This course is a Pass/Fail module. The SMU Faculty Advisor and industry partner/supervisor will review your performance appraisal and the final report. When you pass the elective, you will be entitled to 2 CU.

Students are to pay the regular term fees while enrolled in the WSE, plus the two CUs permissible during the term.

IMPORTANT: Students on tuition fees grant/subsidy should plan their study plan carefully so as not to exceed the normal candidature period.

Students who have accepted the internship offer shall honour their acceptance of the offer by undertaking the work-study elective to its completion.  Those who withdraw will receive a Fail grade for the course.

No credit transfers (local and overseas) are allowed for the WSE.

Students from any discipline in their 2nd, 3rd or 4th Year can apply for the WSE.

However, Year 4 students in their final semester need to note that graduation may be delayed if the overall performance (internship and academic assignments) is unsatisfactory or if the WSE cannot be graded by the official grade release date. 

Yes, International Students who are NOT on Exchange will be eligible to apply for the WSE. However, please check and confirm your eligibility with the ITI/Career Centre staff.

You can use this elective to satisfy the mandatory internship requirement, subject to DKHMCC's approval and the respective school's internship requirements. Students who have not completed any credit-bearing internships may also use the elective to count towards your 1CU for internship (with effect from AY2019 intake where the internship programme is credit-bearing), subject to DKHMCC approval and the respective school's internship requirements. 

When you sign up for the WSE, we will look at the partnering companies' JD to match the best suitable fit and share your application with them. We hope to maximize your chances of securing an interview leading to a potential recommendation. Companies would also shortlist the applications for an interview before confirming the internship.

Yes, students will receive internship remuneration according to the company's HR policies.