FAQ
About PlaXies Lab Program
What is a PlaXies Lab Program
A PlaXies Lab Program is not a traditional internship. It is a student-centered, training-oriented program. The core is structured training enhanced through Project-Based Learning (PBL), allowing students to systematically build job-related skills and practical competencies within a corporate environment, thereby narrowing the gap between student ability and industry requirements.
My academic background does not match the training position I want to apply for. Can I still participate?
Yes, you can. The biggest difference between PlaXies Training and a traditional internship lies in the "entry threshold." Traditional internships focus heavily on immediate readiness and productivity, whereas GIC places a higher value on a student's "growth potential." Anyone can apply regardless of their academic background. We adjust the training content based on the student's level through customized project tasks.
What is the application process? Is an interview required?
The process includes: Background Assessment → Position Matchmaking → Preparation Training → Official Training. Before the official training begins, students will undergo 1–2 weeks of preparation training to establish basic career concepts and acquire the professional knowledge needed for subsequent stages.
Online training generally does not include an interview process, with only a few exceptions (such as the Chinese Academy of Sciences) requiring an online interview. On-site training usually includes an interview process.
Will participating in this training provide tangible help for my future "full-time" job hunt?
Extremely helpful!
Capability Enhancement: Through 1-on-1 mentorship and simulated project exercises, students can accumulate practical experience.
Certificate Recognition: Students who complete a training period of 3 months or longer can apply for the GIC Advanced International Training Certificate.
Background Check: All programs support background checks from the GIC side, ensuring the authenticity and validity of your experience.
Capability Enhancement: Through 1-on-1 mentorship and simulated project exercises, students can accumulate practical experience.
Certificate Recognition: Students who complete a training period of 3 months or longer can apply for the GIC Advanced International Training Certificate.
Background Check: All programs support background checks from the GIC side, ensuring the authenticity and validity of your experience.
Why is there a fee to participate in the training?
Because this is a systematic, "student-centered" training program, rather than a simple exchange of labor. The fees cover 1-on-1 mentorship fees, customized training courses, training materials and resources, as well as a diverse range of career counseling resources. This is an educational service investment in your personal job-seeking competitiveness.
Who are the mentors teaching me during the training?
The training mentors are active managers, executives, or senior employees with over 3 years of experience from various enterprises, selected by GIC to provide customized teaching for students.
How is the PlaXies Lab Program different from traditional internships?
Traditional internships typically feature two main characteristics: scarcity and an enterprise-centric orientation. Scarcity means few openings and fierce competition. Enterprise-centric means companies open internship positions because of their own staffing needs; their main objective is not to help interns develop skills. The PlaXies Lab Program aims to subvert these two characteristics of traditional internships by using an "online training + on-site internship" training framework to offer students a new career exploration opportunity.
FAQ
About Training/Internship Outcomes
Do all programs offer a letter of recommendation?
Yes, all programs will yield a letter of recommendation from the mentor.
What is the use of a letter of recommendation?
Letters of recommendation are highly beneficial for future academic pursuits or job hunting! The importance of a recommendation letter is reflected in two ways:
1. It documents in detail the qualities, potential, and performance you demonstrated during the training period, directly reflecting your experience and professionalism in a specific field.
2. Having the recommendation letter written by the mentor who knows the student best means that the student's performance is endorsed by an industry expert. This implies the content carries substantial credibility and can faithfully reflect the student's learning status and progress.
1. It documents in detail the qualities, potential, and performance you demonstrated during the training period, directly reflecting your experience and professionalism in a specific field.
2. Having the recommendation letter written by the mentor who knows the student best means that the student's performance is endorsed by an industry expert. This implies the content carries substantial credibility and can faithfully reflect the student's learning status and progress.
What will I receive upon completing the training?
Completing the online training yields a mentor's recommendation letter + a GIC training certificate. Completing the on-site internship yields a mentor's recommendation letter + an official enterprise internship certificate.
Is the recommendation letter provided by the mentor customized?
Yes. The PlaXies Lab Program adopts a 1-on-1 mentorship model, where the mentor evaluates the student's learning progress and performance throughout. Therefore, the recommendation letter specifically highlights the personal traits demonstrated by the student, outcomes of simulated project exercises, and future development potential, offering high reference value.
What is the significance of the GIC Training Certificate?
The GIC Training Certificate features a student-exclusive QR Code. Scanning it opens a verification page detailing the student's training record. This page logs the programs the student participated in at GIC as well as the mentor's performance comments. In other words, this verification page documents all of the student's experience in their field, serving as both a professional resume and background check. As a certifying body in the career education field, GIC's certificate serves not only as the best endorsement of a student's capabilities but also as a reliable reference for companies seeking top talent.
FAQ
About On-Site Internships
Do on-site internships require a work visa?
No, generally a tourist visa is sufficient (subject to national regulations).
What are the benefits of an on-site internship?
On-site internships allow students to personally undergo training inside the company, engage in face-to-face interactions with corporate employees, and directly learn about the company’s ecosystem and business model.
How is GIC's on-site internship different from traditional internships?
Whether online training or on-site internships, all program content is student-centered and focuses on providing a platform for students to cultivate personal capabilities. On-site internships feature dedicated 1-on-1 mentorship, with content customized to student levels. Furthermore, online training and on-site internships complement each other—online training builds a solid foundation and practical skills, while on-site internships allow students to experience corporate culture, build networks through cross-departmental interactions, and achieve a fully immersive learning experience through a dual-track approach.
How are GIC on-site internships conducted? Do I actually work inside the company?
Yes, you will actually intern inside the company! The GIC Program creates a direct bridge to enterprises. By steadily completing 3 sessions of online training in the same field to build solid competence, you can bypass the blind resume submission stage of traditional internships and have the chance to directly apply for an on-site internship within a company, working directly on real projects alongside your mentor. Upon completion, you will also receive an official internship certificate issued by the company!
Must I participate in online training before doing an on-site internship?
Yes. Participating in at least 3 months of online training prior to applying for an on-site internship is necessary for two reasons:
1. Online training reinforces field knowledge and professionalism, which is an essential preparation step for subsequent internships.
2. Online training serves as a key period for students and mentors to build rapport and mutual understanding. Once familiar with each other's work habits and modes, students can collaborate more efficiently with their mentors during the on-site internship to complete project tasks. In short, online training is an indispensable stage in student career exploration.
1. Online training reinforces field knowledge and professionalism, which is an essential preparation step for subsequent internships.
2. Online training serves as a key period for students and mentors to build rapport and mutual understanding. Once familiar with each other's work habits and modes, students can collaborate more efficiently with their mentors during the on-site internship to complete project tasks. In short, online training is an indispensable stage in student career exploration.
FAQ
About Online Training
How is online training conducted?
Once the official training starts, online training follows a phased reporting model. Mentors will connect with students via email, online meetings, or messaging to provide regular guidance, assign tasks, and evaluate learning progress. Meeting times are mutually coordinated and decided by the student and the mentor, without rigidly fixed hours. Students can flexibly manage their time to complete assigned tasks and can contact their mentor at any time to ask questions.
What are the benefits of online training?
Online training allows you to manage your own time and arrange online meetings with your corporate mentor. There is no need to stay in the company for long hours, saving costs such as time and commuting, while yielding outcomes equivalent to what you would learn in an on-site training program.
How is online training conducted? Is it like a regular online course?
Online training is not a typical online course (pre-recorded videos or remote lectures). It closely resembles the increasingly popular "remote work model". Students regularly schedule discussions with their mentor, during which the mentor 1) evaluates learning progress and assignment completion, and 2) assigns tasks for the next phase. For the remaining time, students can manage their own schedule to complete assigned tasks.
Will I learn less or gain less practical value from online training?
No. The biggest advantage of online training is that it eliminates routine administrative tasks, allowing students to focus entirely on simulated project exercises. In this regard, the training content of online programs can be even more substantial than on-site training. Additionally, remote work has become an irreversible trend post-pandemic, and online training provides an opportunity to get familiar with this working model.
Is there a fixed schedule for online training? How many hours per week are required?
There is no fixed training schedule. Weekly hours depend on individual learning progress, but generally, assigned tasks can be completed within 5 hours per week. Specific hours vary depending on student circumstances, and mentors will adjust the pace accordingly, so there is no need to worry about tasks being too difficult or too easy.
FAQ
About Mentors
What are the backgrounds of the mentors? When will I know who my mentor is?
Mentors in the PlaXies Lab Program are active industry experts working at various institutions. Once your program application is approved, your mentor will reach out to you (some mentors prefer an initial online meeting to get to know the student's background). Mentors in the PlaXies Lab Program have extensive teaching experience and can assist based on individual student needs. Whether regarding program content (pace too fast/slow, material too easy/difficult, etc.) or requesting leave, you can directly address it with your mentor during the program, and they will make adjustments.
Can I change my mentor or program track mid-way?
You cannot change program tracks mid-way because each track is led by a dedicated mentor and cannot be swapped directly; you can only re-apply for another track after the current session ends. However, if specific issues arise during the program that make it truly difficult to adapt to your assigned mentor, you can submit an application to change mentors. GIC Headquarters will assess the situation and decide whether a mentor change can be granted.