Building Australia’s Asia capability: Griffith students making an impact in Japan and South Korea
What does it take to prepare graduates for an increasingly connected Indo-Pacific? At Griffith University, the answer extends well beyond the classroom.
Since 2019, the award-winning Griffith Asia Business Internship (GABI) program has provided more than 185 undergraduate and postgraduate students with the opportunity to complete professional internships across the Asia-Pacific. Led by Dr Andrea Haefner from the Griffith Asia Institute, the program combines academic learning with real-world international workplace experience, helping students develop the skills, networks and cultural understanding needed for global careers.
Through Griffith’s Global Mobility Internship courses, students spend six weeks immersed in professional environments where they contribute to meaningful projects while gaining practical experience in cross-cultural collaboration. Rather than observing from the sidelines, GABI participants become active members of their host organisations, building confidence, adaptability and professional capability in diverse international settings.
Between 2023 and 2025, GABI supported 93 internships across Asia, with 69 students funded through the Australian Government’s New Colombo Plan. During this period, Japan and South Korea emerged as the program’s flagship destinations, reflecting strong student demand and Griffith’s long-standing partnerships across Northeast Asia.
Japan remains the program’s most popular destination, welcoming around 17 Griffith students each year. Internships have spanned industries including finance, consulting, hospitality, education, technology, sport management and business. Students have worked with organisations such as Hotel New Otani, Dale Carnegie Japan, Pacific League, Steelcase and Education First. These opportunities are supported through partnerships with Trade and Investment Queensland, the Griffith Alumni Network in Tokyo and the Consulate-General of Japan in Brisbane while using Sekaia Inc as Third Party Provider.
South Korea has also grown rapidly as a destination of choice. As the country continues to influence global conversations around K-culture, innovation, technology and entrepreneurship, increasing numbers of Griffith students are seeking first-hand experience in its dynamic business environment. Students from disciplines including International Business, Marketing, Finance, Government and International Relations, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Sport Management and Hospitality have completed internships with organisations such as AustCham Korea, EcoLinks, Wave Company and Brantist.
The benefits extend beyond students. Host organisations gain fresh perspectives and valuable contributions from Griffith interns. IDP Education Korea, which has hosted several Griffith students, describes the partnership as mutually rewarding.
For students, the experience can be transformative. Bachelor of Business and Design student Codi Tiedeman completed an internship with IDP Education in Seoul, describing it as the most memorable and motivating part of her degree. The experience deepened her understanding of global business while immersing her in one of the world’s leading centres of innovation.
More recently, Bachelor of Environmental Science and Bachelor of Business student Natalia Drazek completed a New Colombo Plan-funded internship with sustainability start-up EcoLinks. Working within Seoul’s innovation ecosystem, she contributed to sustainability projects across Africa while developing international project management skills. Beyond the workplace, navigating daily life in Seoul strengthened her adaptability, cultural awareness and ability to build connections across cultures.
As Australia’s engagement with the Indo-Pacific continues to expand, programs like GABI are helping develop the next generation of globally minded professionals. Through international experience, cross-cultural confidence and strong industry partnerships, Griffith University is building Australia’s future Asia capability—one internship at a time.
Dr Andrea Haefner, is the Deputy Director WIL GBS, Lead Griffith Asia Business Internship (GABI) Program and Griffith Asia Institute member.