Returning to Singapore Through the NOC Inbound Programme

A short-term study experience can sometimes lead to something bigger. For Mr. Chihiro Shimoyama, it led to a six-month internship at Belli in Singapore through the NUS Overseas Colleges (NOC) Inbound Programme.

Two years ago, Mr. Chihiro first visited Singapore through a short-term programme as an undergraduate at Nagoya University. The experience left a strong impression and motivated him to return for a longer and more immersive experience. Today, as a Master's student in Informatics, he is back in Singapore and currently interning at Belli through December.

At Belli, his work spans internal software development, evaluating software tools and solutions for colleagues, and supporting the company's social media activities. Through the internship, he has gained firsthand experience of Singapore's startup environment, where speed, efficiency, and direct communication are highly valued. Compared with his previous experiences, he was particularly struck by how quickly decisions are made and how directly interns can communicate with founders and senior team members.

Reflecting on his experience so far, Chihiro describes it as both rewarding and challenging. While he has enjoyed the opportunity to work in a startup and gain international experience, he has also been inspired by meeting talented students from around the world. Seeing peers communicate fluently in English and confidently share their ideas made him realise how much more he wants to learn and achieve. The experience has broadened his perspective and sparked an interest in pursuing further studies overseas in the future.

For students considering overseas opportunities, Mr. Chihiro emphasises the importance of preparation. Rather than focusing on whether something feels difficult or uncertain, he believes it is important to think about what is needed to achieve a goal and then work steadily towards it. For him, that meant strengthening his English skills, gaining relevant experience, and taking action when the opportunity arose.

Mr. Chihiro's journey shows how a short-term international experience can become the starting point for new opportunities, broader perspectives, and future ambitions beyond what students may have originally imagined.