NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SINGAPORE
NUS BUSINESS SCHOOL
STUDENT EXCHANGE PROGRAMME
Evaluation & Feedback Form
Name: Chong Xiao Jun
SEP Semester: Sem 2 2004/05
Host University/Country: University of Cologne, Germany
Questions:
1. How does the host university differ from NUS?
Culture is definitely different. The ways the students and lecturers behave are also vastly
different. In terms of academic, the host university usually does not provide tutorials on a
weekly basis. Instead, the frequent mode of teaching is through extremely interactive
discussions and seminars. Even in big lecture groups, the lecturer will also engage
interaction with the students and questions are frequently raised to the lecturers. Courses
available for the students are very wide-ranging, not as restricted as in our case.
2. What strong points does our School have compared to your host university?
Facilities in the host university are almost incomparable to NUS. Perhaps the university I
went to was an old university, but it has almost no other facilities other than a very big
canteen and some not-very-user-friendly libraries.
Because of the way NUS has organized its faculties to be within the same compound (at
least to date), there is a greater chance to mingle with people in other faculties, unlike in
my host university. Also, the presence of inter-faculty games and other events has created
a stronger sense of school spirit, something that is missing in the university that I went to.
3. What strong points does your host university have compared to our School?
Flexibility in allowing its students to choose almost whatever they want to study, ranging
from subjects of religions to golf lessons; all can be counted as part of the academic
programme.
Also, they have wide ranging sport classes like aerobics, boxing, canoeing etc, all taught
by professionals f.o.c!! We should have that too! =)
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 & Stationery
Clothing
Miscellaneous (Eg: Local transportation, phone calls, postage,
student visa, medical report)
Others (Eg. Extended stay, airfare for tour of neighbouring
states/countries, etc) Please specify here:
Total
Estimated
Expenditure (S$)
1500
300
800
580
70
800
430
2000
6500
5. Please type a THREE to FIVE page report of your personal experience in the host
university.
a) Your overall experience overseas (initial cultural shocks that you encountered, lifestyle,
about the university, academic aspects)
b) What you learned from the exchange program
c) Your advice and suggestions for future exchange students designated to go to that
university
Going over to Germany was definitely an experience of my lifetime. Given another choice, I would
want to do it over again, perhaps for yet another semester. Not only did I learn more of a
European country’s culture (believe me when I say there is still culture shock albeit Singapore is
considered westernized), I made lots of fabulous friends and got to travel a whole lot!
Firstly, it is really true that my perspective of things has widened. From being in contact with
people of different backgrounds and culture to being exposed to the very simulative way of
teaching, I am influenced to think beyond the boundaries of classrooms. There is seldom a fixed
textbook that the lectures are based upon. Materials will be gathered from different literatures and
most of the time, you will be forced to think further, or do some research on the topic yourself and
bring it to class. Because of the way the courses are organised, I was thinking to myself at the
beginning of the lessons: the lecturers in Germany have a very easy job; they do not have to find
materials for the students, the students are made to study the entire syllabus themselves before
lessons begin because of an entry exam, they will then form groups and work on a research
paper and then present it to the class. Discussions will then follow. Basically what the lecturer will
have to do is only to grade, right? I was wrong.
The lecturer was not being lazy or anything. In fact, I was glad to be given an opportunity to
attend lessons conducted this way. I felt that I learnt even more, and remembered even more
facts. It really helped that we had to find all the information ourselves and had to understand it
fully before we could come up with a paper and present it to everyone. The presentation was not
like the usual half hour presentation that we have in NUS, rather, it is almost like we were the
lecturers of the day and had to make sure that the students understood all we said. And the
students were also very responsive in the discussions, providing valuable opinions. It was
definitely a good experience.
Also, with this trip to Germany, I had actually concretely thought of what I want in my life in the
future. Perhaps it is also due to the fact that the other exchange students whom I met are very
much older than I am, mostly undergoing their MBA programme, and thus are more focused in
their outlook in life. Almost all of them know exactly what they want to be. They not only made me
think of my own path in life, they provided a lot of insights regarding the different fields of work.
Although they are hard working in terms of their studies, they are definitely not nerds. Play is just
as important. Parties, excursions, mingling with friends are all part and parcel of life on exchange.
And that is how life should be too in Singapore: more relaxation and less stress.
Let us talk about some of the culture shocks I had when I first went there. Germans love beer.
That I already knew before I went over. But what shocked me was the extent of their fondness for
the alcohol. You will see people drinking beer anywhere, anytime. In the buses, canteens,
McDonalds, on the streets, just anywhere! It’s not that they are drunkards or alcoholics or
anything, it’s just their culture and part if their life. They use beer in almost anything as well. They
cook pork knuckles soaked in beer, fast food chains also sell beer (the only country in which
McDonalds offer beer), even in schools are beer sold. I was really amazed at how these people
actually keep their beer-belly out of the way despite drinking so much! Well, perhaps their bodies
are already accustomed to it.
Another shocking thing will be their openness. Born and raised in an Asian country, there is
bound to be a little trace of Asian values in me although I would consider my family to be more
open than the usual families in Singapore. I still remember the first time I went for the aerobics
class in Germany, I was going into the changing room after the lesson and unexpectedly I walked
into a room full of women changing in the open. Showers were without partitions, and people
were just comfortable in their own skin. Initially I was really appalled. But this does not last long.
You will learn to adapt fast because no one will actually stare at you, or pass any comments.
Thinking back now, I guess there is nothing weird about it at all. It is just a different culture!
And of course, with every exchange programme, it not only exposes you to the culture of the
country you are going to, but also provides you with an opportunity to visit its neighbouring
countries. Personally, I enjoyed the traveling most. Other than touring within Germany itself, I
managed to find time within the semester to go to many places. Holland, Denmark, Luxembourg,
Spain, Austria, Greece are among the many places I visited. Although most of these countries are
within the European Union, I guess the similarities stop there. Each country has its own
uniqueness to offer and is attractive in its own way. It is undeniable that traveling will stretch your
budget to its very limit; I think it will be worth every single cent. Just think of the wonderful
memories you will keep, the beautiful photos you will take, the amazing adventures that you will
experience as you explore each and every path.
Grass is always greener on the other side; it has even more truth in it when you are born in the
modern city of Singapore. While traveling, you will see the picturesque sceneries that will just
calm you down so instantaneously. I still remember the first time I saw a cow strolling just 15cm
away from me, I was simply ecstatic. I may sound like a country pumpkin, but, just imagine, for a
girl who only saw cows and sheep behind cages in the Singapore Zoological Gardens, it is hardly
a surprise!
It will be impossible to pen down all my thoughts and feelings about this exchange trip, it has to
be experienced by you yourself. Words alone are insufficient to describe all the friendliness you
see in the people, the fun you will have, and the growing up process you will go through. Of
course, with the exchange trip, you will learn to appreciate the dinner that your mom cooks for
you and all the ironing. And sometimes, you will even miss the sunny Singapore, especially when
you are in a cold country…
All in all, if you are still pondering if you should go on an exchange, please think no further. Go for
it, or live to regret. I made my choice, and I am glad I went.