Natália travelled to the west coast of Australia as part of a partner university programme through the Centre for International Cooperation. She studied business economics and management there. Her initial motivation for travelling abroad was her thesis, in which she examines how cultural differences influence the management of international teams. She wanted to experience these differences in customs, norms and values first-hand and expand her existing experience to include the Land Down Under.
She is no stranger to foreign environments – she spent part of her secondary school years in Canada and completed a professional internship in the United States during her bachelor´s studies. However, Australia also won her over thanks to its climate. “The ocean and the sun give you energy and put you in a good mood,” says Natália, praising her choice and adding that you can always improve your English.
A practical approach to teaching
Studying in Australia differed in many ways from what she was used to from Czechia. Instead of traditional subjects, so-called units are taught – more complex units combining the content of two to three subjects. The University of Perth does not focus on lectures and seminars, but primarily on the independence of students.
“You have to read a lot of academic articles. You learn practically through projects and seminar papers. It's more demanding, but more rewarding – you work continuously. And the different approach of the teachers kicked me into gear,” Natália explains. She found the lessons on start-ups and entrepreneurship most enriching, during which she created her own business plan, which she would like to implement in the future.
A different student life
During her stay, Natália lived in a university dormitory, where students had access not only to modern facilities but also to a rich accompanying programme. For example, events were regularly held to encourage students from different countries to get to know each other.
She found a temporary home in a renovated flat, where she lived with other students. “We had a view of the swimming pool, which we could jump into at any time. And that came in handy – temperatures often rose to forty-five degrees,” recalls the student. The university campus also included a restaurant, club, cinema, gym and doctor.
Perth itself impressed her as a quiet city with endless beaches, which, despite its size, offers space to slow down. “You go to the beach, take a book with you and realise how beautiful it is just to be there. You really lived your own movie there,” she describes her experience. There was also time to travel outside Perth itself. She visited Sydney, where, unfortunately, she was caught in a cyclone, which significantly limited her exploration of the big city.
It's important to step out of your comfort zone
“It´s okay to be afraid, but the important thing is to try the things we´re afraid of. Often, they're only scary in our imagination,” Natália tells others. She herself coped with warnings from those around her about poisonous spiders and dangerous insects, which she hardly encountered during her stay.
The author of the article is a student at the Faculty of Social Studies and a member of the student editorial team of Magazine M.