Jozef Hudy is a Slovak studying at the Czech University, who managed to travel the world with the skill development program. Thanks to a special program he studied semester in Gente, Belgium, Wroclaw, Poland, Jyväskyle, Finland, and later in a distant and dreaming Singapore.
In the interview you will read:
– how the access to practice and internships varies from study abroad compared to the University of Home;
– what are the main advantages and disadvantages of studying abroad;
– which methods of teaching and approaches to education were most interested in him;
– How it affects the international environment of study stays the personal and professional readiness of a person for life after school.
How did you get to Erasmus+?
A combination of several factors brought me to the Erasmus+ program. My university, who regularly informed students about the possibilities of foreign stays, played a big role. The key moment was also a personal meeting with the dean of my faculty, which helped me to choose a suitable destination and convinced me that a study stay abroad is one of the most valuable experiences I can get during my studies.
I have already participated in short -term projects under the Erasmus+program, which confirmed me that I like the international environment. My classmates were also a great inspiration, who decided to travel despite the Covid-19 pandemic. Then I thought I couldn’t waste such an opportunity.
What study stays did you attend?
My studies at the VŠB-Technical University in Ostrava opened the door to amazing opportunities to travel abroad. Thanks to the support and possibilities that our university has to offer, I could participate in several study stays.
My first study stay went to the beautiful city of Gent in Belgium. This was followed by Finland and the city of Jyväskylä. The third stop was the fourth largest city of Poland, Wroclaw. I graduated from all these stays thanks to the Erasmus+program.
Finally, I decided to travel to far Singapore, and this stay was no longer under the Erasmus+program. There are few schools that allow their students to travel so many times and gain such valuable experience. Therefore, I am very grateful to the VŠB-Technical University in Ostrava, which not only allows these stays, but also supports them immensely. I am proud to be a student of such a great university.
How does access to practice and internships during study abroad compared to your home university?
At the VŠB-TU Ostrava, practice is compulsory in the last years of my economic department to gain work experience before graduation. In Singapore, students are motivated to complete several internships during their university studies. During my stay I was in the environment of students who had already had six or seven internships in the second year. It is not because they have more mandatory internships, but rather because of the high competition and ambitiousness of local students. Employers in Singapore especially appreciate practice, which motivates students to gain practical experience during their studies.
It was also interesting that universities in Singapore are actively working with companies, which means that students can choose from quality internships and on the other hand, the companies themselves are interested in working with prestigious universities.
