Students are building workplace-ready skills through a global programme focusing on live business projects in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The Global Futures programme is one of a number of global experiential learning programmes at the University of Leeds.
Ten University of Leeds undergraduate students from under-represented backgrounds took part in the programme, which was fully funded by Footsteps and Turing funding.
Michael Wiciak, who has recently graduated with an Integrated Masters in Computer Science with Artificial Intelligence, worked with a social enterprise company in Malaysia called Earth Heir.
Earth Heir stock products from local artisans and indigenous people around Malaysia. The company promotes social good and provides income to those communities.
Michael, who will start a graduate role as a software engineer at Lloyds Bank in September, said there were many transferable skills he was able to learn and refine.
“In the future I will be working with clients and this experience has helped me to really refine my skills to understand what clients want.
“It helped that I was the only technical person in the office here in Malaysia, therefore I had to communicate what I knew from a technical standpoint to people who were not in the field and offer solutions for going forward.”
Michael was involved with tasks including website development and data management.
Andy Tan, Finance and Operations Lead at Earth Heir, said: “Michael approached each challenge with a positive mindset to explore, learn and expand his knowledge to provide us with a viable and practical solution to support our business.
“He leaves us with our admiration to his work ethics, quality and professionalism throughout the three weeks.”
It’s a chance to gain a distinct professional edge while also discovering what they’re capable of in a global context.
Georgie Lawson, who has just graduated with a BA in Geography, found the opportunity on the University careers website. She said: “It was an opportunity that really stood out to me.
“The fact that it was an overseas opportunity was a really good selling point, with the programme being in the global south and in Southeast Asia, I wanted to do it as I was looking for an authentic experience. The fact that the opportunity included learning from global leaders in Malaysia was really appealing.”
Georgie worked with Sea Monkey Project, a start-up business run by an Australian family who are trying to create solutions for plastic waste in the ocean.
The company collects three different types of plastics and converts them into products including coasters, bracelets, combs. The business sells machines that can turn plastic into products that can then be sold at retail.
Georgie worked in the marketing and sales team and during the project went on a trip to Penang to work on social media for the brand.
Kiran Collins, Global Opportunities Assistant Manager at the University of Leeds, said: “Experiential programmes like Global Futures provide students from under-represented backgrounds with a fully funded, transformative opportunity that extends far beyond the classroom.
“Immersed in a diverse, international environment, students not only build essential leadership and intercultural skills but also test their ability to adapt and thrive in unfamiliar, real-world settings.
“Students tell us how this experience pushes them beyond their comfort zone, building confidence and resilience in ways that traditional academic settings can’t replicate.
“Crucially, the funding makes these opportunities genuinely accessible - allowing students to focus on growth, not finances. It’s a chance to gain a distinct professional edge while also discovering what they’re capable of in a global context.”
The trip was staged in partnership with Common Purpose, who helped the students with workshops, talks from leaders in different industries and cultural immersion with the city.
The students presented the deliverables from the project to highlight the key learnings from their experiences to Common Purpose.
Duncan McCombe, Partnerships Manager, Common Purpose said: “Global Futures gives students the chance to step into a completely different environment, work with organisations on real challenges, and see the world through new eyes. They learn to navigate uncertainty, adapt to new situations, and understand perspectives very different from their own.
“The result is graduates who are not just work-ready, but more empathetic, agile, and able to lead with cultural awareness; all skills that will stay with them long after the programme ends.”
Further information
Top image: University of Leeds students at the Batu Caves, Malaysia. Credit: Michael Wiciak