Theresa Winona Wijaya is an undergraduate student of Nutrition 2020 who managed to get and experience the opportunity to take part in the University of Geneva World Mobility Exchange Program (Autumn Semester) for 6 months which took place from September 2022 to February 2023. This activity is relevant to the 4th SDG’s Quality education and the 17th SDG’s Partnerships for the goals.
Through Careful Preparation
To qualify and be successfully selected for the program, of course, many things are needed to be prepared. Theresa said that many things need to be considered and carefully prepared before registering for the program. Starting from preparing to determine the destination country, and destination university, to preparing the required documents. Generally, the required documents are English Proficiency Test, Motivation letter, Academic transcripts, and so on. For the requirements to register at the University of Geneva which is located in the French part of Switzerland, needed specific requirements such as the French Proficiency Test.
In preparing the language, it should be prepared from the beginning so that the score obtained can meet or even far above the minimum requirement score. This aims to increase the chances of getting selected. Preparation of all required documents also needs to be considered carefully to minimize all forms of errors and mistakes. In making a motivation letter, it also needs to be prepared optimally. The content of the motivation letter needs to tell the purpose and strong reasons for being accepted into the program.
Once the required documents are in place, the next step usually is the interview. The interview also needs to be well prepared. Theresa admitted that she had prepared herself for the interview in advance by getting used to practicing independently. This provides benefits for her, such as reduced nervousness, being more mentally prepared and communication can become persuasive while the interview.
Another important thing to prepare is the budget. Before deciding to apply and determine the destination country and university, it would be better to know the total tuition fees that will be incurred during the program, the types of scholarships offered in the program, and other budget needs. From Theresa’s experience, she received financial assistance from Airlangga University, but the funds provided were not fully funded so she still needed to pay independently.
Learning New Things and Experiences
At this outbound, Theresa had chosen and studied the Economics and Management Program. The courses are Introduction to Management, Corporate Strategy, Business and Society, French Course, etc. The course is different from her major at Airlangga University. Theresa admitted that it gave her new lessons and experiences that she did not get in Indonesia. Through this outbound, she got the opportunity to learn new things, new languages and cultures, and expand relationships.
Getting Credit Transfer
While participating in this event Theresa had the opportunity to credit transfer in several courses and also convert KKN (Real Work Lecture). She also still follow the lecture at Airlangga University Online in several courses that did not get credit transfer.
Make the Most of Activities
Of course, Theresa felt very happy and lucky to get the opportunity to take part outbound in Switzerland. While participating in the activity, she chose to make the most of every activity available. Not only active in lectures, Theresa also participated in every activity held by the student exchange association in the city. She said she was happy because many activities were often held between students so that it could provide an opportunity to get to know many students from various countries.
After getting this valuable experience, Theresa hopes that other students can follow in her footsteps by participating in outbound. Students must be brave and active to try new things, opportunities, and experiences that can help them to achieve their goals and dream careers.
Author : Arvina Tria Nitami