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Being the best student that I can be

Attēla autors: No LLU arhīva

Studiju joma: Business Management

Introduction

As a master student of business Management, I was dreaming about getting a great academic background. After studding one semester at Latvia University of Life, Sciences and Technologies (LLU), the University and me, agreed to go on exchange in Czech Republic for one semester at Czech University of Life, Sciences of Prague (CZU) as an Erasmus Exchange student.

Today I feel great to write this short story about my second semester (spring semester) 2017/2018. This whole experience, right from the initial application process in October till writing this final report, will always remain of great importance to my throughout my life. Here is my short summary of different stages or steps involved for making sure in gaining this wonderful experience.

1. Preparation

I started my application process by choosing the University where I wanted to spend my second semester, this process was not easy because I had various options, I finally come out with the decision to choose Czech University of Life Science of Prague. The main reason for my choice was the courses being offered there are quite similar the subjects that my university required. The decision would have not been possible without the help of some testimonies of students who have been at CZU for their Erasmus program, I also decided to choose Prague because the city is more attractive for students and located in the center of Europe, so students are coming from the whole European continent as well as other continent like Asia, America under others special exchange program.

Once I did my selection then the application phase came which was undoubtedly very well organized by the International Office of LLU who is responsible for the task. I was provided with the list of requirements very well in time and hence I had enough time to manage the required documents to complete the application package. I gave all the requirement documents to the International office who send them to the Czech University and manage all the process intend on me.

I would like to thank Zinaīda Jurševska, Andra Zvirbule, Beāte Kaktiniece and all the staff at Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies who involved in the process as well as the staff at the host university.

2. Accommodation

My accommodation was very well managed by the host university. Of course the standard is nor the same as at LLU where everything is new in rooms and much more organized, I was given option of staying in the dormitory. In each room there were two students with a private kitchenette and one bathroom, toilet which we shared with one more room. My roommate was Turkish, his name is Ahmet Pehlivan and we had a great collaboration and shared an incredible friendship during our Erasmus period.

The dormitory administration was very cooperative. The rooms were cleaned and provided with all basic necessities i.e. furniture, internet, bed-sheets, blankets and curtains etc. The dormitory environment was a unique experience in itself as there were people from so many different cultures and from all over the world living all together on the campus. One advantage of living in dormitory was the location to all different faculties that was very close because everything is on the campus, easy to get to the public transport, and also the environment was awesome because the campus is located in a green area surrounded by mountains with an amazing view of all airplanes how they are taking off or landing as the university if located about 6 km for the Prague airport.

3. Academics

As mentioned in the first part that main reason of selecting CZU was the number of courses offered there. There were lots of courses offered which I could register for. There were more than 50 courses offered in English especially for Erasmus and exchange students and these courses were very well structured and taught by different English native teachers. Apart from special Erasmus courses we were also allowed to register for any course offered in university, for their own Masters or Bachelor programs.

I chose 7 courses:

Course

Name of teacher

Country

Evaluation of Entrepreneurial Activity

K. Malec

Garvan Whelan

Czech Republic

Ireland

Strategic Management

I. Ticha

J. Polakova

Czech Republic

Czech Republic

English for Debate and Negaciation purposes

Ambassador Alexander V. Hitchen

USA

Wholesale and Retail Trade

Brittany Wood

USA

Marketing Communication

Yuri Seo

New Zealand

Strategic Marketing

George Gresham

USA

Business Strategy

Eamon Lenihan

Ireland

Apart from the curriculum the environment of the class in itself was providing a platform to learn a lot. Being in class along with so many international students from different countries coming from all over the world, having discussions, presentations and listening different perceptive, students with different backgrounds both bachelor’s and master degree and ways of thinking’s was an experience worth. Sometimes we had a presentation in a group of 10 people and all 10 students from different countries and sometimes from 4 different continents (Europe, America, Asia and me from Africa).

The assessment method was a project report for the course along with presentation but some teachers used the method of final written test also as part of the assessment depending also if the teacher was local or visitor because with most of visitors teachers we had blocks studies (5 hours pair day during one week).

I really like the system at CZU because we had attendance list every day and the university use to control how student are attending lectures and that can have even impact on the final grade of exam because if student didn’t attend the minimum required time, he is not allow to take exam.

4. Everyday Life and Leisure Time

Prague is one of the biggest and the most touristic European city and well located on the center of Europe, with a very high student population as the city has a lot of universities. There is a lot to do and explore in the city. The city has a good transportation system hence making the life very easy. They city has a lot to offer for the free time and weekends. Starting from different historical museums, theatre, churches, some old monuments, Opera, restaurants, lakes, parks, cinemas, castles, rivers, mountains, shopping malls and lot more. From Prague I had also opportunity to discover many other cities and touristic places in Czech Republic as well as other European Counties like Germany, Poland, France, Switzerland, Austria, Slovakia and so on.

Czech people are very friendly and love to have fun and party (beer). There is always something going on around which is worth enjoying. Apart from the happenings in city, the Erasmus Student Network also organizes many trips, picnics, events and parties for the Erasmus students. And I would like also to thank Martina Celakovska who was my buddy very friendly and helpful during this time I was living in Prague.

Conclusion

To sum up, I will start by saying that Erasmus was great experience for me. Every moment was full of learning and fun. For me this was one of the best semester of the all my study experience because I had opportunity to meet student from all over the world and lean from also teachers from all over the world, this semester required to be a hard worker because I wanted to be always one of the best student and actively answering during lectures and also active during the presentation. For that I receive a great result because 5 of my courses I received excellent grade, one very food and one good and I collect all my 32 credits that I wanted.

Thank you so much LLU and CZU for providing me with this opportunity and will highly recommend Czech University of Life Sciences of Prague as one of the best places to go for an Erasmus with great teachers, staff and students.

Pievienots 17/10/2018