Kotaiba Abdul Aal - Master in Service Management

Kotaiba Abdul Aal is from Syria and chose to study in Sweden because of the country´s reputation as peaceful, open minded and tolerant to other cultures and religions.

- I´m here not only because of the education side. I want to learn the culture as well. I´m from Damascus, a city with six million people situated in the Middle East. I wanted to see something else other than the noise of the city and the political issues we live with every day, says Kotaiba.

A friend in Syria, part Swedish, part Syrian, recommended Kotaiba to go to Sweden. And altough Kotaiba had the opportunity to study in the USA or Britain, he chose Sweden and Karlstad.

- The Service Management programme, which I was interested in, is not available elsewhere. In addition the Service Research Centre here at Karlstad University has a very good international reputation. So it was a combination of reasons as to why I´m here.

Kotaiba has started his second year at the master programme. He is also active in the International Student Association, ISAK, with responsibility for the marketing side. His expectations both on the country and the education has so far been met - if not exceeded.

- I think Karlstad is a great place, although so much smaller than Damascus. It offers fewer activities than a big city.That is a good thing for me. I´m too sociable! here I can focus on my studying. And the people are so friendly, open and helpful.