08/12/2025
Learn more about with another !
Hi everyone, my name is Hidde and I’m currently doing an internship within the operations management department at Besi APac (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd. After completing my BSc in Business Administration at the University of Groningen and my MSc in Transport & Supply Chain Management at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, I wanted to gain some international experience, preferably in Southeast Asia. Through MDBC, I was introduced to Besi, which I was immediately curious and excited about.
Unlike other students, I wasn’t tied to any specific university requirements for my internship, so this gave me the freedom to choose a project that fit my interests. After an orientation period with my supervisors, I started working on my project focused on inventory management. I’m building a model that helps optimize the first phase of machine assembly at a material level, which fits perfectly with my enthusiasm for operations and .
An important aspect of this experience has been learning about Malaysian culture, both in the workplace and everyday life. If you say culture in Malaysia, you say food. People really take the time to enjoy their meals here, whether it’s lunch or dinner, and it creates a social atmosphere. It’s a great way to connect with colleagues and locals and to get an idea of how people live here.
Outside of work, I live with two other Dutch interns in the centre of Kuala Lumpur, and there’s always something happening in the city. We often go out for food together, play padel, or have a drink at the Havana bar. With the group of interns, we’ve also travelled to the Perhentian Islands, Cameron Highlands, Bali, and Bangkok, where my housemates and I ran a half marathon.
I’ve now been in Kuala Lumpur for three months, and the time has really flown by. There is so much to see and experience alongside the internship itself. If you’re considering doing an internship abroad, I would really recommend doing it here. This experience has exceeded my expectations, and I’d happily stay longer.
