The Department of Management and International Business of Lviv Polytechnic National University gives a unique opportunity to bachelor’s and master’s students of educational programs «International Economic Relations» of semester study as a part of Erasmus + program at Kingston University (London, UK). It should be noted that both Ukrainian and international students enrolled in the department’s educational programs have this opportunity.
The following is an impression of a study at Kingston University of a student from the Republic of Vietnam, Chan Quok Viet.
My name is Quoc Viet Tran; I am a 4th-year bachelor student of International Economic Relations (International Business) educational program at Lviv Polytechnic National University. As an international student I left Vietnam in 2015. I have always since then known how beneficial, and how much of a challenge study abroad is. However, I did not expect to have another chance to go study in another country before my graduation until my third year; we were told that an Erasmus exchange was being set up with the Kingston University and one of the teachers in my department told me that I were qualified to apply and would totally have an equal opportunity like other Ukrainian students. I remember feeling like I’d won the lottery, knowing that I’d get to spend the next five months living and studying in London. My semester as an Erasmus student was honestly one of the best times of my life.
Studying International Business abroad at Kingston University in London has been an eye-opening experience for me. As someone who doesn’t speak English fluently, being immersed in a new culture, a new learning environment proved quite challenging at first. Still, it has turned into an invaluable life experience. One of the first things I noticed about studying at Kingston was the strong sense of professionalism in the classroom. Lesson plans and materials are thoughtfully chosen to help students learn and succeed. In each class, there are often PowerPoint presentations, handouts, video lectures, and interactive discussions. Most Lecturers are friendly and willing to answers any question from us.
Another thing I noticed early on was the constant debate and argumentative nature of seminars. It’s refreshing to encounter students who are eager to question and challenge their lecturers, rather than simply accept their viewpoint. Group work is promoted, and it is not about forcing ideas and theories into memory but about encouraging us to think differently.
Examinations and assessments often consist of group and individual assignments, which usually are several thousand-word essays. Students have to get used to strict adherence to word limits and referencing. It is also essential to meet deadlines, submitting coursework even a few minutes late is not acceptable; students better start early in order to spend enough time planning and writing.
The time studying at Kingston creates more opportunities for me to think critically, to organize my tasks in order of priority, and enhances communication and other professional development skills.
However, with me, Erasmus student life was not strictly about the study – it was also about cultural explorations, traveling, friendship, and discovering yourself in dynamic and different environments. Before I left, getting everything sorted involved filling in lots of paperwork and this taught me to be more organized. When I arrived, I had such a blast getting to know so many other people from all different nationalities and I grew so much in confidence as the time progressed. Upon returning to Lviv for my final year, I was fluent in English, my language skills were stretched to their limits. More than that, I had a network of friends across Europe and a completely different perspective of my home country. While this experience isn’t exactly what I expected and has been difficult at times, I’ve learned invaluable lessons, and I would recommend it to anyone.