University of Queensland students looking to broaden their horizons will converge on the St Lucia campus on Tuesday, April 9 to attend the 2013 Global Experiences Expo.
Held annually, the event attracts more than 2000 students and provides a great opportunity to find out about international study options, speak to partner universities and returned exchange students, and how to access volunteering and other work experiences abroad.
UQ Bachelor of Commerce/Economics student Ashwin Sadhwani recently returned to Australia after two consecutive exchanges to prestigious universities in Shanghai and Beijing.
Interested in a career in finance and strategy consulting in Hong Kong, Mr Sadhwani was eager to learn not only about the business culture in China, but also Chinese culture and the local way of life.
“I am now very familiar with the people, places and local culture of two major cities in the world, not to mention all the experience travelling to nearby cities and countries during holiday times," Mr Sadhwani said.
“A few years ago, speaking Mandarin as a second language would have been an advantage, now it is virtually a requirement for the work that I want to do."
It was these career aspirations that led Mr Sadhwani to take the UQ Abroad student exchange program to study at the Shanghai campus of Ecole Supérieure des Sciences Commerciales d'Angers (ESSCA) in 2012, immediately followed by a language exchange at Tsinghua University in Beijing.
“I chose ESSCA Shanghai because of its uniquely structured syllabus and small class sizes," Mr Sadhwani said.
“Their program offered visits to multinational companies and excursions to nearby cities like Hangzhou."
Mr Sadhwani took accelerated Chinese courses at UQ for a year before going on exchange.
“While in Beijing, I focused on making the most of improving my language skills," he said.
While Mr Sadhwani recalled his love for the “sweet and oily” Shanghainese cuisine, he still finds it difficult to decide which city he enjoyed most.
“The best part of choosing two separate universities in two different cities was gaining a more comprehensive experience," he said.
“I am certain that my language skills will represent a clear point of difference between myself and my peers in terms of career opportunities."
Dr Jessica Gallagher, Director of the Office of Undergraduate Education (OUE), said she was enthusiastic about global and cultural engagement, and encouraged students to discover non-traditional exchange destinations.
“With over 175 partner institutions, UQ students can study overseas in 38 countries through UQ Abroad, in locations as diverse as Norway, India, Turkey, China and Brazil," she said.
“Whether for study, professional development or research, global experiences give students a competitive edge in today’s job market and a network of lifelong friends and contacts."
All UQ students are encouraged to find out more about the wide range international experiences on offer by visiting the Global Experiences Expo on Tuesday, April 9 from 10am to 3pm in the Holt Room.
Media: Jan McCreary, 07 3365 2852, jan.mccreary@uq.edu.au
