A university education is – by design – a life-changing experience, but it is especially so for those who enlist in student exchange programmes and seize the opportunity to study abroad. Living, learning and working in a different culture helps them develop new skills and perspectives, exposing them to new career pathways.
Tobbie Leung, a design and development engineer at Medtronic, a medical technology manufacturer, credits her success to the exchange programme offered by the College of Engineering at the City University of Hong Kong (CityU). When Leung enrolled in the undergraduate bioengineering programme at the College of Engineering, she took advantage of its exchange programme to study for a year in Sweden at KTH Royal Institute of Technology. Academically, Sweden presented Leung with different learning experiences. Furthermore, there were new technologies and systems to familiarise herself with. “There are some new technologies, like 4D printing, and also quite a lot of medical device companies in Sweden as well,” says Leung.
Leung’s decision to go abroad was not taken lightly, and she attributes her success to the support offered by the College of Engineering and the opportunities provided by the exchange programme. CityU offers various scholarships to help students from all backgrounds participate in its exchange programme. Leung says that without CityU’s financial assistance, she could not have afforded the move. She is also thankful to her CityU advisor for helping her secure a place at KTH.
In addition to financial support, CityU provides a buddy programme where alumni and senior students who have completed similar programmes offer advice and support to current students. “Before I went abroad, they sent contact information of the students who went to that university the previous year so I could just reach out to them and say, ‘I have some questions. Do you mind if I ask you?’ It is really helpful,” she says.
Leung’s exchange experience allowed her to develop new skills and perspectives, exposing her to different career pathways. She is grateful to the College of Engineering for offering her the opportunity. “Part of the reason I am here is just because I have had those overseas experiences,” she says. “It really changed the direction of my life. I was afraid of speaking English. I was afraid of approaching different people. But those experiences in Sweden really opened me up.”
CityU’s exchange programme played a crucial role in facilitating Leung’s successful exchange experience and shaping her career trajectory. The support and resources offered by the College of Engineering made the transition easier for her and allowed her to focus on her academic and personal growth during her time abroad.
Find out more about the exchange programmes offered at CityU's College of Engineering.
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