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Hi everyone! I’m Natsuki, and I’ll be graduating this coming spring. Today, I want to share my experiences from an internship I’ve been doing this semester.
Once a week, I intern at APU’s Social Collaboration Office, located within CIC Fukuoka (Cambridge Innovation Center) in Chuo-ku, Fukuoka City.
CIC is a premier innovation hub that brings together domestic and international startups, corporations, investors, universities, and government agencies. As part of the APU 2030 Vision, the university opened this satellite office to foster closer ties with industries and local governments.
Currently, three student interns (including myself) are involved in networking with CIC tenants, introducing APU’s initiatives, and planning and managing events.
Recently, I had the chance to speak at an event called the Thursday Gathering. I participated in a panel discussion on diversity and inclusion (D&I) alongside APU alumni who are active in the Fukuoka business scene. After the session, I even had the opportunity to exchange business cards with interested corporate representatives and discuss potential future collaborations.
Having already finished my job hunt, I wanted to use this time before entering the workforce to sharpen some essential professional skills: networking, building trust, and the ability to research and stay informed to hold meaningful conversations with professionals on equal footing.
In this role, I act as the "face of the university," communicating with a diverse range of people every day. It can be nerve-wracking, but it’s incredibly fulfilling to hear about the regional and industrial challenges different companies are tackling and to explore how they might align with APU’s mission. One of the best parts is that, as a student intern, people are often genuinely interested in my campus life and my graduation thesis, which make for great conversation starters!
My fellow intern, Misora Sumikawa (APM, 4th year), told me that she’s "meeting even more people than she imagined." Since CIC is home to so many startups, interacting with entrepreneurs has inspired her to think about launching her own venture in the future.
This valuable experience is only possible because of APU’s strong commitment to social collaboration. As the finale of my time at APU, I want to give this internship my all—utilizing the skills I’ve gained through student organizations and study abroad programs to build professional networks and contribute to industry-academic partnerships.
In my next post, I’ll be sharing more about the event planning process at CIC. Stay tuned!
Hello! I'm Natsuki, an APS 4th year majoring in International Relations. I hope to inspire you all by sharing my interesting experiences, new discoveries, and encounters at APU. Yoroshiku onegaishimasu!
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