A Blog about Education Abroad

Tag: BCom International Business

Diego Strebel at City University of Hong Kong, China

Diego Strebel

BCom International Business

Semester Exchange in the Second Semester, 2022 at the City University of Hong Kong

Pre-departure:

In preparation for my exchange semester in Hong Kong, I focused my efforts on a few main points: online university registration and enrolment, the visa application process, flights, quarantine hotel and student accommodation. For the online university registration and enrolment process, I had to supply the City University of Hong Kong (City U) with my personal details, an electronic passport photo, previous certifications, a brief paragraph of why I would be an ideal fit as an exchange student at this university, as well as my preferred module choices.

I had chosen ten modules provisionally; however, only two were ultimately allocated to me – meaning I was three short of the required credits to pass. This was slightly stressful, considering the process of selecting and allocating modules was extremely unclear and confusing. We were given ‘windows’ of two hours on three days to make module changes and there were ‘x’ number of steps to navigate through. Not to mention, the website for doing so probably has not been redesigned in 20 years. I had to engage in multiple E-mail communications with different heads of departments until finally, I was able to sort everything out. I would recommend City U rethink their approach to this as fellow incoming exchange students and I struggled with this.

There is not much to say about the visa application process: all I had to do was send the necessary visa application documents to the exchange coordinator in Hong Kong, and she took care of the rest. I received the visa roughly one month prior to my departure. I would like to emphasize how grateful I am for this hassle-free visa process: I was able to check online at what step of the process my application was in. At the time of my arrival, Hong Kong still had a mandatory quarantine period of seven days. For this period, I had to search for a government-approved hotel. Considering the limited supply of quarantine rooms in Hong Kong, I would not have found accommodation for those seven days if I had waited to receive the visa before booking. This was a conscious risk I took, booking everything prior to having received the visa.

Thereafter it was time to search for suitable student accommodation. The exchange coordinator in Hong Kong sent us a couple of recommendations. I am not staying in the student residence as I missed the application deadline for this. That, however, was not a problem as there were many options not too far away from the university. That being said, student accommodation would have been the most affordable option–by far. Next on the to-do list were flights–nothing out of the ordinary: I made sure my flights included orientation week as well as the final day of examination and made bookings.

Experience at the Host University

I enrolled in the following modules: Financial Systems, Markets and Instruments, Introduction to Artificial Intelligence (AI), Management, Persuasion in daily life, and Security Analysis and Portfolio Management. As 50% of the modules I was permitted to choose had to be business-related, I made sure to try something out of my usual interests. I enrolled in the AI course since I believed it would be exciting because I am doing my exchange in Hong Kong, which is under the control of China, and is highly focused on developing AI systems and technology. Additionally, the Persuasion course was interesting, and I feel I have benefited and can apply certain concepts to my everyday life.

A Temple in Hong Kong

The other classes were not anything unforeseeable to me as they were all business related. Similar to the University of Stellenbosch, I noticed that most courses’ final grades are comprised of a group assignment (project or presentation) and a final examination. Where City U differs from SU is in that attendance was recorded for most of my classes and comprised part of the overall grade. Similarly, one has to claim points for participation by emailing the lecturer with the contributions one makes during class. In addition to this, there is only one final assessment towards the end of the semester and no ‘A1, 2 and 3’. This forces students to undergo higher levels of stress to perform well in the final exam as there is no second opportunity.

I was fortunate to befriend a group of locals through the student exchange club at City U who were eager to show me their city. I participated in numerous university-organized activities and excursions, such as horse racing, trips to different islands, beaches, temples, and local markets, tried the local cuisine and was able to experience the local nightlife. This was a great way to fully indulge myself into the Hong Kong culture and meet and make new friends, as most of my classes were held in an online environment, which made it difficult to connect with professors and other students. This is partially due to the fact that it was online and partially due to the fact that local students tend to be more introverted and reserved than South Africans or any other culture for that matter.

Diego on an island excursion with exchange friends

Return to Stellenbosch:

I will be returning to South Africa in just over two weeks and am already able to draw a few conclusions about changed perspectives. I am quite excited to return back to Cape Town as it has been a few months since seeing my friends and family. I am looking forward to experiencing once again the more open culture of South Africa when compared to that of Hong Kong. Although this cannot be said for every individual here, it is apparent that in general, people in Hong Kong live more stressful, distant, self-oriented lives. The overall atmosphere is less relaxed and more fast-paced. In terms of adjustment to the weather, Cape Town and Hong Kong have similar seasons to the extent that it never truly gets cold, and the summers are sweltering. The one difference is that Hong Kong has a more tropical and, therefore, humid climate, whereas it is simply hot in Cape Town. It will be comfortable not having to walk into a cold and heavily air-conditioned lecture hall or shopping mall and not to break into a sweat every time I leave my accommodation, regardless of the time of day.

Another observation I have made which will require some adjustment is that in my home country of Switzerland and Hong Kong, the education system focuses more on applying one’s learning, engaging with the material, and presenting it to the class so as to retain the most information for the most prolonged time. In Stellenbosch, the exams ask students to ‘list the15 sub-points to this’ and ‘recall the ten reasons for…’. This has the consequence that students study for exams rather than for their learning which I feel is untrue for educational system of Hong Kong.

Hong Kong has also changed my perspective on poverty and safety. Like any city, there is poverty in Hong Kong, and a major problem here remains the housing of 200’000+ people in so-called ‘cage homes’. These inhuman living conditions can still be too expensive for some, meaning they have no choice but to result in homelessness. About 1’500 people are homeless in Hong Kong. This demonstrates that although housing affordability is a problem in Hong Kong the government will try its best to provide you with alternative solutions. Walking through Hong Kong, even in less wealthy neighborhoods with homelessness, one feels safe almost all the time. Hong Kong is one of the safest cities in the world, and regardless of whether that is true because of surveillance or strict punishment, one does feel that safety is a shared value here. That will not be the case upon re-entry to Cape Town, where Covid-19 has exacerbated the economic and social situation.

Hong Kong has influenced my future plans in the sense that I am now convinced that I will one day live and work in a vibrant Asian mega-city be it Hong Kong or somewhere else in South-East Asia. I love the food, culture, weather and have made some lasting connections here. My South African study visa expires in one year, meaning I have no other option than to go abroad again, and although I am unsure as to where my next home will be, I hope it is South America for a couple of years to continue my studies and then Asia to settle down for a few years.

September 12, 2023
Nina Robinson at EM Strasbourg, France

Pre-departure

As part of Stellenbosch’s International Business degree, students are given the opportunity to spend a semester abroad. It was the semester I’d been waiting for since applying for the degree, and it is still hard to believe that it’s over. Since First year I’d dream of spending my exchange in France, so I chose Strasbourg as the city where I’d be staying for the next four months.

Once getting accepted into EM Strasbourg, all the organising, planning and appointments started tumbling in. I could finally focus on researching and getting excited about one specific place: Strasbourg. Getting a French visa was a very smooth process. I did it all through Capago in Cape Town and had my visa within three weeks.

One of the more stressful parts pre-departure was securing accommodation and doing research on which accommodation would most suit me in Strasbourg. The university offers student accommodation which is definitely the most affordable option. However, it works on a first come first serve basis, so if you are thinking about staying in a residence you need to make sure you are sitting at your computer the moment the application opens. I stayed in a residence called Paul Appell. It was perfectly located being a 15 minute walk to the school and a 15 walk to the heart of town. There is also a university restaurant in the residence which offers three course meals for 3,30 euro! Other residences that I would recommend would be La Marne and La Somme, both of which are situated directly opposite the school but are a bit further from the center of town. There are also a lot of private accommodation options if you don’t think a residence would suit you. Many students stayed in shared apartments with other exchanges or French students which is a very nice way to get to know locals.

I left for Strasbourg at the end of August, and it was still 30 degree weather. So make sure you pack clothes to get you through some hotter days. I would recommend buying a winter coat there as there are so many better equipped (and fashionable) options available. I flew Emirates, which meant I was allowed two check in bags (something that you will be very thankful for when coming home). Strasbourg airport is very small and didn’t have many flights flying into it, so I flew to Frankfurt and then took a Lufthansa bus to Strasbourg which was a very quick and easy option.

Living and studying in Strasbourg

Studying at EM Strasbourg was very different to Stellenbosch- but in the best way. The school itself is not situated on the main campus, but instead a few minutes walk away. It’s a very impressive and modern building where most exchanges had all their classes. Classes were a big shock to me. Most classes are either 3 or 4 hours long and have only about 25 students in them- all of which are exchanges. I was expecting to have class with some French students, but all the classes offered to us were solely for exchange students and therefore taught in English. Having such a small class was quite difficult at first as it meant a lot of participating and engagement, which does not happen in a usual 200 student lecture. This ended up being a great way to meet people as after a 3 hour lecture all 25 of you have no option but to get to know each other.

The courses that EM offer are one of my favorite things about the school. They are so diverse and were so different to any courses I have previously taken. The courses I chose were Introduction to European Economic Policy, which gave me an insight into the inner workings of the European Union (especially interesting due to Brexit); Economy of Happiness; French B1; Intercultural Management; Business negotiations and Grape and Wine Knowledge. My personal favorites were Business Negotiations which included workshops where we got into groups of six and role played business negotiators. Grape and Wine Knowledge was another favorite as Alsace is main wine region in France and the course included a wine tasting in a beautiful wine producing town called Ribeauvillé.

Strasbourg is incredibly central within Europe, which meant that weekend travels were very easy for us. We took full advantage of all the budget transport options such as FlixBus and Ryanair which allow you to travel to most cities very cheaply. I was fortunate enough to travel to Germany, Poland, Denmark and discover a lot of France.

The French culture is something that took a while to get used to, and also really made me appreciate South Africa and cultures back home. Most people in Strasbourg don’t tolerate a lot of English- specifically when doing any admin regarding university accommodation. The residence’s reception, grocery stores and restaurants only spoke French and most of the time wouldn’t attempt any English. This really did force me out of my comfort zone as I had no other option but to practice my French. The language barrier is very real, but apps such as Duolingo is very a good tool to start learning the basics of the language.

Strasbourg itself really does look like something out of a fairytale. There are canals that form what is called ‘Le Grand Île’, with picture perfect bridges and Hansel and Gretel looking houses. The city is small enough that you get to know your way around pretty quickly, but by the time I’d left I still hadn’t discovered half the things there is to see. My favourite time of being in Strasbourg definitely has to be December. The city transforms into an actual winter wonderland with Europe’s biggest Christmas market open every day for a whole month and the most magical Christmas lights hanging in every street. My favourite memories are my friends and I gathering at the markets with our Vin Chaud, strolling through the festive streets.

Returning home

I was lucky enough not to have felt very homesick while I was away. I adapted to my new life in Strasbourg quickly and found comfort in a group of other exchanges who became like a second family. Saying goodbye to Strasbourg and everyone I had met there was emotional and knowing that this experience that I had waited three years for was actually coming to an end was a very surreal thought. However, the thought of returning home was also very exciting as it meant seeing friends and family again and enjoying a month of summer holiday.

I’m not going to lie though; the actual return home was a bit underwhelming and anticlimactic. I remember before leaving on exchange, a previous student told me that coming home felt like stepping off those moving ramps you get at airports- and that couldn’t be a more accurate description. For the last four months your life has been a whirlwind of traveling, meeting new people, learning new things and being completely independent. Coming back home and having that all stop comes as a bit of a shock to the system. Exchange exceeded all my expectations and I couldn’t be more grateful for this experience. It inspired me to open up options of going abroad after studying, but it also made me appreciate South Africa and everything that this country has to offer.

August 4, 2020
Nikki Conradie at Queensland University of Technology, Australia
Pre-Departure

An exchange semester in Brisbane, Australia? I don’t even know how to express what an amazing experience this was. From the host university, to the travels, the people and even the studies…. I really believe that this should be on everyone’s bucket list.

Firstly, I decided on Australia based on the fact that they speak English and I really believed that this would help me to make local friends and connections that I feel would have been more difficult in other countries. Also, take a look at BRISBANE, the city as a destination is probably one of the most picturesque places I could ever imagine. Another big factor that I considered when choosing QUT, in particular, was that they offered a really cool opportunity called “WIL” (Work Integrated Learning). This is an opportunity to work in a company as an intern in place of an academic/ theoretical module. I really saw the value in this as getting work experience behind your name, especially as a South African, is very difficult – and wow, it really was one of the experiences where I’ve learned the most and can highly recommend it to everybody!

Other than that, going abroad was my first time on an international airplane – quite a big jump for someone who has never traveled internationally, to moving completely to live abroad for 6 months. But it really taught me so much about the world and all the admin involved in traveling. Having said that, here are some of my top tips in terms of preparing for your adventure.
1. Start early with the visa application. Australia’s visa processes are all done online and you get no physical stamp in your passport. However, make sure that you have all your documents ready before applying. You will also need to see a doctor in Cape Town to do a health check on you and a TB scan – the tricky part about this is that there are only about 3 doctors in South Africa who can sign off on those requirements for you. That’s why I emphasize that you apply early because there is normally a long waiting list to get an appointment and you also need to consider the drive to Cape Town into your planning.
2. Pack light, I would suggest only one warm jacket and a few pullovers, Australia is such a warm country and unlike our European exchange friends, the temperature never drops below 22 between August and December. Brisbane in particular is very hot in the summer. I also noticed that Brisbane is more of a trendy and on-the-go city. So, leave your plakkies and shorts for the beach. Smart casual is the in-thing on that side of the world.
3. Check out different flights when booking your round trip. A return trip to Australia for my dates was around 25k at the time, but I decided to play around by booking a trip to Thailand on my way to Aus and then stopping over in Munich on my way home – I stayed with other international business students who were doing there exchanges there and all those flights together worked out cheaper than a one way to Australia. Try to find a loophole in the system – there are some good deals.
Experience at the host university

I don’t think you will ever meet a person who was more passionate about this exchange than me. I absolutely LOVED everything about Brisbane from the moment I stepped off the plane. The people of the city are so lovely, the city is so neat and beautiful, and everything is so safe and works really well together.

For my first month, just to settle in, I stayed at a home stay. This can be arranged through the QUT International Student support office. They link you with families that suit your needs and then you can choose which one you would like to go to. It is a bit pricey at 2500 a week, but food and everything is included – you just basically fall into their family. This was a lovely experience for me to see how a typical Australian family lives and to adapt into their culture. They also took me out on weekends and showed me around Brisbane. I got the opportunity to go watch the kids play sport at school in the evenings and never had to worry about preparing my own dinner – this was lovely and I believed it really helped me settle quite easily into the new life. It was also great coming home and not being alone.

Furthermore, the academic program at QUT offers a special Work Integrated Learning unit that gave me the opportunity to undergo an internship at an international company as part of my course. I highly recommend this as it was one of my most valuable experiences in learning how the corporate world operates.

Overall, I will say that the workload at QUT, for my chosen units, was much less than at SU and definitely more research and project based. Classes are also two hours compared to the 50-minute lectures at SU. However, the lecturers are really engaging, and I was able to build personal network relationships with all my lecturers. They also provide so many opportunities for post study jobs and are very involved in keeping you connected with industry partners – very different to the mainly theoretical components of studies at SU.

QUT further offers amazing networking events and opportunities to link with industry professionals. I found these events so valuable in building a network of people to contact in the future.

Beyond studies, Brisbane is a beautiful and sunny city with so much to offer. It is possible to walk to most places, otherwise the public transport will definitely get you there.

Unfortunately, eating out, excursions and accommodation are not small expenses, especially in Brisbane. The city has a very vibey, and business orientated core with an upmarket and classy lifestyle. Along with this come classy prices too. Australia is not the country for budget living – so be warned. However, I felt that the amount I received from SU was enough to cover all these costs and along with my part time waitressing job, I was able to do all the travelling that I wanted. Another thing – getting a job in Aus is much easier than back home. Minimum wage is also over R200 per hour, which turned out to be enough to keep me up and running very comfortably. So if you are worried about finances, I definitely recommend that a part time job.

Return to SA

After falling completely in love with Brisbane and all the city had to offer, it was quite a hard hit coming home to SA. It was definitely an adjustment coming from a country where everything works together so well, everything is safe and where things to do are abundant and exciting to come home and the first thing I noticed was the lack of service and slow pace of things at JHB International airport. However, home still has a special place in my heart and no matter how much goes wrong in our country – we all have each other, together in the struggle and I think that in some way shapes us all to be go-getters and plan-makers. My world has definitely been opened to see that there is so much more out there beyond what we know and the ease of life where an economy is thriving, is definitely noticeable.

This has inspired me to look beyond SA for future endeavors, but to also link my experiences with the 1^st world and see how we can make changes in SA from a business perspective. I have also learned to appreciate SA more after so many of my international friends have said that SA is on top of their bucket list – how cool that our country is a destination of choice for people around the world!!!! My goals for coming back are now focused around seeing and experiencing South Africa in the eyes of an “exchange student” and to know that even though it may only be a temporary return, SA is beautiful too.

My biggest struggle in the adjusting back phase was missing the constant adventure and fast pace of things. I missed my international friends who were always willing to travel and explore and in missed my job and internship experiences. However, my mindset has changed, and the world is no longer such a big place – I know that so much awaits, and it is all only a flight away.

I would definitely say that this exchange has changed me as a person for the better. I’ve learned so much about the world and myself, learned how to deal in difficult situations, learned to handle admin (visas, flight bookings, international transfers, budgeting etc) by myself. Being thrown into the deep end all alone in Australia, I can feel that I have improved my interpersonal skills and learned to interact with so many different types of people. I’ve also gained corporate experience and feel more confident in business settings. There are so many benefits and over and above everything I had the privilege of being able to see world wonders like the great barrier reef, the Sydney opera house and so much more with friends from around the world who I now consider as family.
August 4, 2020