NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SINGAPORE
NUS BUSINESS SCHOOL
STUDENT EXCHANGE PROGRAMME
Evaluation & Feedback Form
Name: Goh Si Xian U024072U
SEP Semester: S1 04/05
Host University/Country: Lund University (Sweden)
Questions:
1.
How does the host university differ from NUS?
Classes are not fixed in Lund. Classes can fall on different days and at different times
each week so one cannot go by habit in remembering ones lesson schedule. As far as I
have experienced, there are no tutorials, only lectures and discussions. NUS provides her
students with more “individualized” attention, or from a different perspective, students in
Lund University have to be more independent learners.
One difference that stood out most evidently for me was the culture and learning
atmosphere of Lund University. Sweden in general is a more gracious and forgiving
society and this is reflected in her education system as well. Students are given many
opportunities at re-exams (they are not required to retake the whole course if they should
fail the written exam) and the modules they have failed are not reflected in their transcript.
Each written exam is 5 hours long and students are allowed to leave at any time. This
reduces the level of exam pressure significantly, and students are given more than ample
time to think through and express their answers. Even students who are late for the
examination show no signs of the “trauma” evident in late-comers of an NUS exam.
The grading system in Lund also differs from NUS. In Lund, students are awarded grades
(fail, pass, and high pass) according to the absolute scores they attain for their
assignments and written exams. Students are not required to compete with one another on
a relative scale in order to receive a good grade.
2. What strong points does our School have compared to the partner university?
The NUS Business School is certainly blessed with better facilities. Lessons are generally
also more structured in NUS Business School and I think most Singaporean students will
find this exceptionally helpful during their first year when they are building their
foundation of business concepts. We have also been blessed with excellent and dedicated
teachers as well as non-teaching staff.
3.
What strong points does the partner university have compared to our School?
The Swedish students in Lund are not so fearful of making mistakes and take failure
more positively. The learning atmosphere is thus generally more positive. There is also a
lower degree of reliance on American textbooks and in general, students read a few
thinner books instead of one thick textbook for each course. The partner university also
structures the lectures in such a way that a few lecturers teach each course instead of just
one. This exposes students to a wider variety of expertise and experiences.
4.
What expenses did you incur at the host university for one semester?
Estimated Breakdown of Expenses:
Items
Airfare (Return Ticket)
Travel & Health Insurance
Accommodation
Food
Books and Stationary
Clothing
Miscellaneous (Eg: local transportation, phone calls,
postage, student visa, medical report)
Others (Eg: Extended stay, airfare for tour of neighboring
states/countries, etc) Please specify here:
Total
Estimated
Expenditure (S$)
2000
300
3000
1000
250
200
500
1000
8250
5. Please type a THREE to FIVE page report of your personal experience in the host
university.
a) Your overall experience overseas (initial culture shock that you encountered,
lifestyle, about the university, academic aspects)
b) What you have learnt from the exchange program
c) Your advice and suggestions for future exchange students designated to go to
that university
The four and a half months that I spent on exchange between the 16th of August and
the 28th of December 2004 have been the most enriching and memorable experience
in my life. Like most of my peers, I felt the initial feelings of excitement, anxiety,
confusion, and enthrallment during my early days in Lund. There was a child-likeness
and a sense of wonderment to it all.
The culture is Sweden is most certainly different from that in Singapore but nothing
so dissimilar or usual which resulted in “culture shock”. The feelings of anxiety
resulting from the unfamiliarity of the new environment faded quickly. It took time to
find out where certain facilities/places were, and how to settle certain administrative
processes such as paying of bills and stuff but it was all part of the fun of moving into
a new place. I enjoyed getting lost and finding my way around.
Daily life in Lund was serene, filled with the simplest of pleasures. Going running,
baking, reading outdoors with the company of the prettiest of flowers, movie nights
with friends/corridor-mates, doing project work with people of other nationalities,
taking walks with a friend; nothing too extravagant yet these are the moments during
my exchange that I cherish most.
The exchange program has taught me the importance of relationships. I started this
journey quite alone as I did not know anyone very well and I feel very blessed to have
left with many special friendships. The time we had together was not very long yet
the moments we shared were neither hurried nor centered on academic matters. I
realized that if not for these relationships that were formed over the course of my
exchange, the entire experience would have been far less valuable to me.
The exchange program also taught me a lot about myself through my own quiet
reflections and also through the words of others. Two close friends that I made over
the course of my exchange told me that their first impression of me was that I worked
too hard. These friends have taught me not to take myself so seriously and have
generously shared precious life lessons with me. I will always remember the last walk
I took with one of them one winter night. I walked my friend home and just as we
were about to reach his apartment he asked me if this exchange experience has
changed me. I gave him a reply but until today I am still discovering the differences
in my perspectives, values and attitudes.
I believe one reason for this change was from the many moments of quiet reflections I
had in Sweden be it by a pond or whilst leaning against a tree in an open field. It is an
underappreciated necessity that is seriously lacking in Singapore– quietude. Someone
I admire greatly once wrote:
“The human heart was meant for times of quiet, to peer deep within. It is when we do
this that our hearts are set free to soar and take flight on the wings of our own
dreams.”
The time on exchange allowed me to learn a lot about myself.
Another lesson that I learnt was to be more tolerant of differences in opinions and
hence to listen more closely to other people. During my stay in Sweden, I discovered
that capital punishment is not viewed favorably by the general populace. In Singapore
we have for a long time accepted it as part of our legal system and perhaps even
consider it to be an effective deterrent against potential criminals. This difference in
opinions has made me more awareness of society’s influence on ones thinking and to
be more careful in distinguishing “truth” from mere opinion.
One difference that I noticed about myself only when I went back to school in NUS
was that I speak up more in class now. I am bolder in voicing my opinions and I
enjoy participating in class discussions much more. I find it difficult to explain
because in Sweden I hardly ever spoke up in class and there were no grades awarded
to class participation. Yet, it was the whole exchange experience in its entirety that
has helped me to make these positive changes.
For future exchange designated to go to Lund University, they might want to bring as
many textbooks as they can from Singapore as cost of textbooks in Sweden is
exceptionally high. One can buy a new textbook in Singapore and sell in second hand
in Sweden at a higher price. The banks in Lund generally do not accept travellers’
cheques so future students ought to consider how they would want to bring their
money over (for instance getting a relative to transfer money over from Singapore
when the bank account in Sweden is set up, or withdrawing money with a credit card
and cashing it into the bank account). Since it takes two weeks for the bank to issue
an ATM card, it would also be advisable to bring sufficient cash for at least a month.
About S$1000 (4000 kr) should be more than sufficient. From personal experience,
one should also refrain from bringing too many things on exchange because you
would very likely need less than you think.
There are some courses that are more popular with international students such as the
courses under the general heading of “Scandinavian Studies”. The workload for these
courses is quite light, perhaps equivalent only to about 4 to 5 weeks of work in NUS.
However, for those who want to take finance courses in Lund, the ones offered at the
Masters level are pretty worthwhile ( if you enjoy something more challenging), but
do be prepared to work hard. Definitely no last minute work for these courses if you
hope for at least a pass.
For those who are planning on traveling, do be careful. Lund is pretty safe but be
watchful of your valuables when you travel. As far as possible, try to keep them on
you and not in a bag.
Take time to smell the roses and mix around with people of different nationalities,
and even those from your own home University. You will realize that first
impressions, though pretty lasting, can be quite inaccurate. In most cases, you will be
pleasantly surprised. All in all, your time on exchange will be among the most fun,
meaningful, memorable, and life-changing months in your life.