Internship Experience at the Centre for Policy Research (CPR), Universiti Sains Malaysia
During my internship at the Centre for Policy Research (CPR), Universiti Sains Malaysia, I had a truly memorable learning experience both academically and personally. On our first day, Dr. Sazlina Salleh Ma’am warmly welcomed us, introduced us to the CPR workspace, and encouraged us to enjoy our time in Penang while learning from the experience. We also met friendly colleagues including Atif from Pakistan, who kindly made tea for us, Hanif from Indonesia, and other students who made us feel very welcome. One of the most unforgettable parts of the internship was the fieldwork at Middle Bank and Pulau Gazumbo. At Middle Bank, I once got stuck halfway in the soft mudflat and struggled hard to get out, which made me realize how challenging intertidal fieldwork can be. After that experience, I stayed closer to the sandy area with Ain Ma’am. Returning from Pulau Gazumbo was also an adventure as I struggled to climb back onto the boat while Hanis Ma’am was feeding the island dogs. These moments, although challenging, made the field experience very memorable. We also attended the CPR Policy Dialogue Series on “ASEAN Policy Solutions for Shared Growth,” where I learned how research and policy discussions can support inclusive economic development and regional cooperation. After the programme, we enjoyed a delicious lunch and took photos with faculty members and graduate students from different countries, which was wonderful to cherish. Throughout the internship, Ain Ma’am was incredibly supportive and patiently guided us during field visits and discussions, including a very insightful visit to land reclamation sites. Outside work, Harshan was extremely helpful from the beginning, helping us resolve our internet issues, showing us around the USM campus, and even taking us to Queensbay Mall, George Town, and Armenian Street. On our last working day, we had a very insightful meeting with Dr. Sazlina Salleh Ma’am, where she guided us on how to approach and write our policy brief and how to search for the necessary information and data. Even within that short meeting, we learned many valuable things from her guidance. I am sincerely grateful to Dr. Sazlina Salleh, Ain Ma’am, and the CPR team for giving me such a valuable opportunity and a learning experience that I will always remember.
Figure 1: Group photo with faculty members and graduate students of the Centre for Policy Research (CPR), Universiti Sains Malaysia, after the Policy Dialogue Programme.
Figure 2: Selfie taken while travelling by boat to the Day-2 fieldwork site at Pulau Gazumbo. The boat was moving too fast, making the photo blurry, but the memory remains crystal clear.
Figure 3: Observing the seagrass species Halophila ovalis during fieldwork at Pulau Gazumbo Island.
Figure 4: Photo with Dr. Sazlina Salleh and Ain Amani on our last official day at the Centre for Policy Research (CPR), Universiti Sains Malaysia.
Figure 5: At one of the main entrances of Universiti Sains Malaysia, taken on our last day at the Centre for Policy Research (CPR), Penang