6 ways a student exchange program can help you in your career
A student exchange program is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, which transforms your academic future. It makes you self-reliant and enhances the prospects of your employability
Participating in a student exchange program brings a comprehensive change in one’s life. It is a challenging, liberating, fun and incredibly rewarding adventure to be on an international exchange program in Europe. You get a myriad of opportunities to learn and evolve personally as well as professionally.
I had always aspired to be a part of an international student exchange program since the day I joined MBA Logistics and Supply Chain Management at UPES in 2018. When I got the opportunity in September 2019, I chose the University of Maribor, Slovenia, because of its special courses. Slovenia is situated almost at the centre of Europe and touches upon the borders of four European countries: Austria, Italy, Croatia and Hungary.
The best part of studying in Europe is you get borderless travel options within 44 countries of the European Union
Here are the 6 ways a student exchange program can add value to your life:
1. It boosts your confidence
I had always been a protected child, hence, never did anything adventurous. So, to gain the confidence I wanted to step out of my comfort zone. During the exchange program, I learned a lot – starting from managing international travel to lodging/boarding in an alien country. This made me self-reliant and helped me gain the ability to confront changing environments around me. I learnt to overcome new challenges.
2. You get to meet new people
During this exchange program, I met students from 43 different nationalities with totally different cultural, educational and financial backgrounds. I never restricted myself to only one group and made new friends, who, in the later stage of the program, helped me whenever I was in need. Their endless energy inspired me to try different activities.
I met students from 43 different nationalities with totally different cultural, educational and financial backgrounds
3. Opportunity to travel and explore
The best part of studying in Europe is you get borderless travel options within 44 countries of the European Union. I received coupons from my host university, which enabled me to book tickets for travel and stay in countries with discounted prices so that I could save more and travel more. I went to 20 famous and some unseen cities in 11 different countries of the continent. For me, this was an achievement.
4. Chance to learn new languages
In Slovenia, very few people could talk in English and usually spoke the Slovene language. Therefore, I had to learn the basics of their language to be able to connect effectively. My roommate was Turkish, so he also taught me his native language. In the welcome week, we had an event called ‘Polyglot’, where we had a group of five people and we had to converse, but not in English. There, I learned some phrases of French, Dutch, Spanish and German.
The student exchange program was an incredible and memorable experience
5. Exposure to global cuisines
During this exchange program, I tried a lot of European dishes. As eating bread daily was a challenge, so I tried my hands at cooking as well. While travelling to nearby countries, I made sure to relish their sweet dishes and local specialities. There was an event called ‘International Dinner’ in our welcome week, where everyone made something from their mothers’ cookbook. I tried almost 20 different dishes for the first time. Since I was staying in a dorm, where every floor had a common kitchen, we all used to cook together.
6. Enhances your employability
A mention about exchange programs in your CV increases your employability factor. Recruiters are aware of how such programs groom an individual and are a reflection of the candidate’s qualities such as confidence, leadership, risk-taking ability and sustainability. This shows that you are open to new experiences and you can adapt to any situation.
The student exchange program was an incredible and memorable experience. I am glad that I got this opportunity that helped shape my future. If you too get an option like this, do not miss it.
(The writer is an alumnus of MBA Logistics and Supply Chain Management UPES, School of Business.)
Also read: A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity
Shailja Katyal Verma
Ekta Kashyap
Diana George
I really appreciate. Pranav was also invited for interview by Radio Channel in Maribor. It is worth mentioning here. All the Best.
Rightly mention Pranav. Your thoughts will give wings to other students. Many more success to you!!
Thank you Sir for assisting me in every situation from getting me ready before going there to complete the documentation.
Great Article Pranav. We all are very happy for your accomplishments. More success to you. !!
Thank You, Jyoti.
Kudos to your spirit of wanderlust! The way you have experimented with cuisine , languages and travel.
May God bless you with lot more happiness!
Writing this blog was possible because of constant support from you Mam.
Proud to see you writing blog and sharing your views with other students and academic community. Being your faculty and HOD, I have noticed tremendous changes in your personality in last two years.May you touch newer heights in your career.
Thank you so much sir for motivating me to do a lot of things at the same time focusing on curriculum.
Rightly mention Pranav. Your thoughts will give wings to other students.
All the best and more success to you!!
Thanks Shubham.
Congratulations Learning is more outside Classroom ,good show.
All the Best
Absolutely, I agree with you, Sir. I learned a lot of things after going abroad and it really shaped me to face situations.
Pranav, you have very nicely expressed the importance of such exchange programs. Education is not omerely learning of earning livelihood but to explore, know and understand others, other countries, other culture and become an ambassador of your diaspora among them. Your account of Slovenia stay demonstrates the successful achievement of both of them and learn to esrn is always a by product thereof.
Very well quoted Sir. Studying should be an experience and not a typical schedule. Going on an exchange program gives you more confidence to stand in the corporate world.
Surely Pranav you have expressed it really good & yes , the points you mentioned above are very important. New country for your self confidence, meet with different countries people, learning new languages with their local language , about the global cuisines, experience with explore & travel with new countries & mainly as you have written if you mentioned it on your CV absolutely it will boost your employability factor . Really the student exchange program will boost your career. All the best .
Surely Pranav you have expressed it really good & yes , the points you mentioned above are very important. New country for your self confidence, meet with different countries people, learning new languages with their local language , about the global cuisines, experience with explore & travel with new countries & mainly as you have written if you mentioned it on your CV absolutely it will boost your employability factor . Really the student exchange program will boost your career. All the best
Absolutely and thanks for believing in me
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Surely Pranav you have expressed it really good & yes , the points you mentioned above are very important. New country for your self confidence, meet with different countries people, learning new languages with their local language , about the global cuisines, experience with explore & travel with new countries & mainly as you have written if you mentioned it on your CV absolutely it will boost your employability factor . Really the student exchange program will boost your career. All the best
Pranav simply rocks. It’s really a wonderful and knowledgeable experience for you I guess. Indeed interacting with different students of different culture is a new way of thinking and establishing yourself with remarkable achievement in life. I am pretty sure that u have earned so many international benefits like culture, learning skills, environment, new friends, exposure to new places, food and offcourse all over of it is adaptability in reality.
Being your faculty, Course Coordinator and PIC, I admire your efforts and thanks for being a great student of DoTM, SOB, UPES, Dehradun. Keep rolling and rocking in future.
My best wishes.
Cheers mate! 👍
Your support was always there and that gave me a boost in confidence to take this adventure and surely this exchange program changed me a lot.
Very nice blog Pranav, beautiful expression of thoughts and a good message for student community. I am confident the learning from this exchange program will take you to newer heights of success in personal and professional domain. All the best.
Totally this is helping me a lot.
You have pointed out really important aspects of exchange program.
This really boasts me….Thank you
So happy to know you learned a lot during the student exchange program. Global perspectives facilitate working in international diverse teams and I am sure you will be able to contribute in such teams significantly.