Thea Sterner, Human Resource Management and Working Life, and exchange student
Thea Sterner, what programme are you studying at Karlstad Business School?
- Human Resource Management and Working Life, semester five. I start semester six in the spring.
You have chosen to study a semester abroad - where?
- In the city of Wollongong (UOW) located south of Sydney in Australia. Wollongong is a relatively large city near the coast with beautiful beaches, walking paths, good coffee and nice people.
What courses have you studied as an exchange student?
- I had a free semester which meant that I was relatively free to choose the courses I wanted as long as I got 24 credit points (= 30 ECTS credits). I chose courses in line with my programme and one course with more practical and creative elements.
- Marketing Principles (MARK101),
- Professional Communication: Concept and Practices (MGNT102),
- Introduction to Management (MGNT110)
- Visual Arts Studio Workshop (CAVA112)
Tell us about your experience at the University of Wollongong
- During my time studying at UOW, I have been treated with a lot of care and commitment, and I have met many wonderful people. The university has been very good at welcoming us exchange students, and showed us around the campus, and organised some different activities during our first weeks.
And even though Australia is very far away, I felt at home very quickly. Much thanks to the accommodation I was assigned where I made many new friends and was included in various activities. I got my own room but was served breakfast and dinner in the dining room, which also became a natural way to meet others and socialise. The university is also very good at involving students in various activities and offers clubs for those who wants to get involved in something specific.
Have you experienced any challenges during your time as an exchange student?
- My biggest challenge has been to find a suitable study technique for four parallel courses. Each week looked different and comprised either lectures, workshops or tutorials. It was a little difficult to figure out how much time each course would take up per week and what I needed to prepare for each part.
The biggest difference in my courses here, compared to Sweden, was the amount of practical activities/assignments, where we practiced a lot on applying our knowledge to a case and then presenting it to the class, which usually took place during one and the same class. In the beginning, it was something that I felt a little nervous and stressed about but over time I became more at ease presenting in English as well.
I’m very pleased with my experience, both of Australia as a whole, Wollonong as a city and UOW as a university. It took some time to get all the documents ready before leaving but I would do it ten times over for an experience like that.
Do you think your time abroad has benefitted you?
- Life as an exchange student has given me many useful life experiences, friends for life and an understanding of how big the world is. There are also many international students in Australia, which means that I have come into contact with people from all over the world and gained perspectives from a variety of cultures. I will benefit greatly from that in my future profession in HR.
I have also become more comfortable speaking English and using a more academic and professional language. It will be useful in the future. I have always been interested in understanding how international organisations work, and I have gained greater insight into this through the courses I studied here, especially in Communication and Management.
How would you present a pitch to encourage other students to go on a short exchange period abroad?
- It is a fantastic opportunity to experience new cultures and create memories and friendships for life! I’m very grateful for all the people I got to meet, the nature I got to see and the life experience it brought me. Australia is an amazing country with a lot to offer.
What are your hopes and plans for the future?
- I’m curious about all the possibilities that life has to offer. In the spring, it is time for the last semester of my bachelor’s degree, and after that I hope to find a suitable job in HR where I will have an opportunity to develop professionally together with others and contribute with my skills and experiences.