Yale-NUS students deepen their knowledge in sustainability through a work experience in Norway

Bryan Tan (front) and Sean Becker (back) did an internship in Oslo, Norway under the NUS Overseas Colleges (NOC) programme. Images provided by Bryan and Sean.  

To gain hands-on experience and global perspectives in the field of sustainability, two Yale-NUS College students Bryan Tan Chee Koon and Sean Becker (both from the Class of 2025) decided to do a full-time internship overseas for six months. They did so under the NUS Overseas Colleges (NOC) programme which enabled them to travel to Oslo, Norway, to intern at Celsia, a sustainability reporting software company.

The experience proved to be particularly rewarding for Bryan and Sean as they not only gained new insights into a field they are passionate about, but also grew personally from their time abroad. As Sean described: “Celsia seemed like a great place to crossover both my courses doing a commercial role in a sustainability focused business. Norway itself is renowned for having an ESG focus plus the EU is lightyears ahead of the rest of world in enforcing environmental regulations.”

Bryan and Sean with their team at Celsia. Photo provided by Bryan.

Bryan, majoring in Mathematical, Computational, and Statistical Sciences with a minor in Economics, found his internship at Celsia aligned perfectly with his academic interests. Explaining his motivation, Bryan said: “I was drawn to Celsia because of my interest in the intersectionality of data, sustainability and finance – and Celsia happens to be at the crossroads of that. Celsia is a leading force in the sustainability reporting industry in Norway, and Norway is a leading global power in sustainability which makes this environment the best place for me to learn more about this field!”

During his time at Celsia, Bryan took on responsibilities such as client communication and software management. He appreciated how his Yale-NUS education, particularly his courses in data science and economics, had prepared him for the role. However, he also acknowledged the differences between academic knowledge and practical application: “In my previous internships, there was some element on handholding and I liked that comfort. However, at Celsia, I was asked to do many important tasks on my own which helped me learn so much more than I could have ever imagined!”

Bryan greatly appreciated the opportunity to do an overseas internship and encourages others to do so as well: “You will not regret it, I promise. It doesn’t have to be Norway, it doesn’t have to be Europe. But move to a country you have never been to, where you don’t speak their language. If it pushes you out of your comfort zone, only then will you be able to discover and learn about yourself on a more personal level.”

Sean, who is pursuing a major in Economics and a minor in Environmental Studies, was also drawn to Celsia as the work aligned with his academic pursuits. His role involved leveraging his knowledge in a commercial capacity, focusing on sustainability. He remarked on how “Norway is renowned for having a strong environmental, social and governance (ESG) focus and how the European Union is ahead of the rest of the world in enforcing environmental regulations.”

Sean’s role required him to use his understanding of economics and environmental policies actively in the business environment, translating complex policy frameworks into strategic business advantages. He shared how his experiences at Yale-NUS prepared him for this: “Courses at Yale-NUS have given me a broad overview of the landscape. My Environmental Studies classes have been especially crucial to get me up to speed on global environmental policy. My sales-focused role was about communicating what I learnt to new leads and driving new revenue for the company.”

Similar to Bryan, Sean gained a lot of satisfaction from accomplishing his daily tasks independently within an environment of trust: “Working in a start-up has been incredible, given the amount of autonomy granted even to interns. I’ve been given a lot of independence to pursue leads and strategise on my business area. Trying new things and failing quickly is a great way to learn. I can absolutely take the outcome of these mistakes as guidance for my next role.”

Reflecting on their growth, both noted the independence and adaptability they developed during their time overseas will help guide them in their future roles.