Hands-on Learning: AISG’s Social Practice Program

Grade 11, Laura H works with staff from Deron Dental to find cavities and carry out an oral examination. Image provided by Laura H.

Imagine stepping into a workplace, gaining firsthand experience in your future career… This is the reality for students at AISG’s Social Practice Program where students are not just learning about careers—they’re living them.

“AISG’s Social Practice Program partners with leading companies in Guangzhou to provide Upper Secondary School students with real-life, hands-on work experiences beyond the classroom. By working alongside industry experts and mentors, students gain valuable insights into their fields of interest, develop essential skills, and build great community connections. This exposure helps them better understand potential career paths and start reflecting on themselves and their futures, making it an invaluable experience at such a formative stage in their lives,” says Vanessa Yang, Project & Event Coordinator in the Advancement Department.

These social practice programs provide students with exposure and experience from a young age. Notably, all interviewed students (8/8) reported not finding other internships outside of this program, as major organizations seldom take on minors. “I’m very grateful for all the experience that I got and how much I learned during the program. For example, I would have never expected to actually go into labs and do experiments on real cells and I get to do similar stuff to what graduate students do,” shares Grade 10 Zak, who participated in the MEDPRIN internship. This program allows students to work with PhD mentors and university professors, engaging in advanced experiments. This program appeals to students interested in biology, chemistry, and medical engineering.

Many students have also gained insights into the day-to-day operations of their respective fields. “It helped me get a taste of what my life might be like if I were to become a dentist one day, and this program really showed me the reality of this career path,”  says Grade 11 Laura, who participated in the Deron Dental social program. AISG’s programs have served as an eye-opener for students passionate about their future careers.

Grade 11 Sophia, who participated in the 37 Enteractive Social Practice Program, adds, “I truly saw how the positions and artists are irreplaceable. On a broader standpoint, I reaffirmed my perspective on the immense value of the art industry,”

Even though the programs may not be specifically tailored to each student’s desired career, they still provide valuable workforce experience. “I gained a lot of knowledge about dentistry. Although I don’t plan to work in a dental field in the future, I learned how to interact with customers, which I think will be useful in my future work,” says Grade 11 Miu, who participated in the Deron Dental social program.

In addition to engaging with professors and customers, these social practice programs have helped some students clarify their university choices, offering a glimpse into their potential futures. “Before starting the program, I knew I wanted to do something bioscience-related, but after participating in the internship, I realized I wanted to focus on lab work and explore the same boundaries that MEDPRIN does. It’s helped narrow down the universities I want to apply to and gave me a taste of what I could be doing in university and beyond,” says Grade 12 Alex, a MEDPRIN intern.

Despite these benefits, students also face several challenges. Participating in social practice programs, which mimic the daily schedules of real-life workforces, requires a significant time commitment. Students should carefully consider this before joining. “If you are willing to sacrifice a lot of time and energy, then this is the right program for you. If not, don’t bother,” warns Grade 11 Sofia, who participated in the  MEDPRIN Internship .

“It’s important to be prepared to learn and put effort into the program because it can be quite challenging. In my program, we had multiple hour-and-a-half-long lectures followed by up to two hours of experiments in the lab,” adds Grade 10 Zak.

There are also potential communication difficulties due to language barriers. “It wasn’t an issue for me, but many social practices program instructors are not fluent in English, and they use Chinese most of the time. It’s pretty hard for non-Chinese speakers to catch up with the content, especially if we are taking a tour.” Says  Grade 12 Hengyu, who participated in in FedEx and 37 Enteractive programs.

Students in the Deron Dental program faced similar challenges, as the program accommodates all levels of Chinese proficiency, yet mentors primarily use Chinese. “One of the biggest challenges we faced was the language barrier between some doctors and students who did not speak Chinese. As someone who is mostly fluent in Chinese, this didn’t pose a significant problem for me, but I noticed some students were often confused or struggled to understand what our mentors were saying,” says Grade 11 Laura.

Organizational and transportation difficulties also should be taken into consideration for students planning to join AISG’s social practice programs. MEDPRIN participants had to travel to and from Shenzhen, and students from both the Deron Dental and 37 Enteractive programs mentioned some degree of confusion. Some students also felt that the daily schedule was at times underplanned. “We had a couple of days with too much waiting time, which could be improved with better-prepared activities,” reflects Grade 12 Meg, from the Deron Dental program.

It’s important to note that AISG is still developing and working towards expanding their social practice programs. The new SDG Pharma program will be added to the school’s offerings, with some content still being finalized. SDG Pharma is a manufacturing program, a global leader in glass pharmaceutical packaging.“These programs aim to provide students with enriching opportunities beyond the classroom, aligning with AISG’s mission to build transformative learning journeys that prepare students for the future and inspire them to make a positive impact as compassionate global citizens,” states Vanessa Yang.

Participating in such programs is highly recommended by students, who have thrived in these working environments. “I would recommend students participate in the social program because it’s a fantastic opportunity to gain experience in your future career field,” says Grade 11 Olivia, from the 37 Enteractive program.

“Alex, an AISG grade 12 student with a passion for these subjects, found this experience to be a significant boost to his aspirations, appreciating the blend of theoretical learning with hands-on practice.” Vanessa Yang

Overall, the dedication from mentors, hands-on experience, and the application of knowledge to real-world settings have contributed to a unique and transformative educational experience, fostering personal growth in students. “What I gained from this program was something I could not have gotten from school or most other programs open to high school students,” concludes Grade 11 Laura.

Students looking to participate in these programs can contact Vanessa Yang, or find application details on ramsnet. Contact info: vyang@aisgz.org