FROM MOSCOW TO LANZHOU: HOW KUPALA UNIVERSITY STUDENTS EXPERIENCED EXCHANGE PROGRAMS
Eight third-year students from the Faculty of Economics and Management at Kupala University have temporarily change their home classrooms to lecture halls in Russia, Kazakhstan and China. We learned how our students are trained in academic mobility programs and get acquainted with another culture.
Third-year students Anna Shut and Seviaryna Mazol, both majoring in "Electronic Economics", are currently studying at the St. Petersburg University of Management Technologies and Economics. According to them, studying at a different institution offers a fresh perspective on familiar subjects, introduces them to diverse teaching methods, and allows them to become part of a new student community.
"It’s fascinating to encounter different teaching styles and discuss assignments with new classmates. This experience helps me express my thoughts with greater confidence and gain a clearer understanding of my own academic interests", shared Anna Shut.
Seviaryna Mazol echoed this sentiment, noting that a particularly valuable aspect of the experience is how academic study at another university blends seamlessly with making new friends and exploring a new city.
Meanwhile, third-year students Nikita Khilko, specialty "Electronic Economics", and Pavel Lapitski, specialty "Economics and Management", are gaining international academic experience in Astana. They are participating in an academic mobility program at the L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University. Studying in Kazakhstan provides an opportunity to engage with a different academic environment and develop cross-cultural communication skills.
"For me, the most interesting part is seeing how education is structured at another university and interacting with students who bring different backgrounds and perspectives," noted Nikita Khilko.
Three students from the Faculty of Economics and Management at Kupala University are currently studying in Moscow at the HSE University. They include third-year students Daniil Tsyntsevich and Volha Mandryk, specialty "World Economy", as well as Anastasia Lobik, specialty "Finance and Credit". For them, academic mobility offers an opportunity to broaden their educational experience, explore a new environment, and pursue their professional interests.
Daniil Tsyntsevich noted that studying in a new setting has provided a significant boost to his personal and professional growth:
"Academic mobility allows you to test yourself in a new environment. When you enter a different educational setting, you begin to re-evaluate your strengths and gain a clearer understanding of which skills you should focus on developing. This experience provides extra motivation for your studies".
Another student participating in an academic mobility program is Matsvei Smiatanka, a third-year student majoring in World Economy. He is currently studying at Lanzhou City University in China. His educational journey combines academic coursework at a foreign institution with exposure to a different culture. As he shared, the trip to China has been an entirely new experience, and he is thoroughly enjoying his studies.
Although they are in different countries and universities, these students share a common drive for new knowledge and a willingness to embrace unfamiliar challenges. For them, academic mobility is more than just studying away from their home university. It is an experience that fosters independent decision-making, new connections, and personal growth.
We wish these students a successful academic journey and many exciting discoveries!
