Student’s Voice - OUICP-S Career Advance English Program in Brunei
IKEDA Kodai – School of Economics
Participated in the OUICP-S Career Advance English Program in Brunei in September 2023
Participated in the OUICP-S Career Advance English Program in Brunei in September 2023
Q1. What motivated you to participate in OUICP-S Career Advance English Program in Brunei?
I was planning to eventually participate in a long-term student exchange program, but I had never been overseas before, so I decided to start by joining a short-term study abroad program. As I was checking information regarding study abroad programs on the KOAN Bulletin Board, this program caught my eye, so I decided to apply.
There are a few reasons I chose this program out of all the study abroad programs available to me. First, it was a valuable opportunity for me to learn about Islamic culture, something that I don’t have a chance to do in my everyday life. Second, when compared study abroad opportunities in Europe or the U.S., academic and living costs for this program were lower. For these reasons, I thought this program would improve my English ability and offer a good chance to experience another culture.
There are a few reasons I chose this program out of all the study abroad programs available to me. First, it was a valuable opportunity for me to learn about Islamic culture, something that I don’t have a chance to do in my everyday life. Second, when compared study abroad opportunities in Europe or the U.S., academic and living costs for this program were lower. For these reasons, I thought this program would improve my English ability and offer a good chance to experience another culture.
Q2. What did you gain from this program?
UBD Student Buddies, a student group at Universiti Brunei Darussalam which hosts this program, helped me. They were outgoing, friendly, and very kind, so we spent a long time together and deepened the understanding of culture and history of each other’s country.
Talking with them about environmental preservation and economic development and summarizing in a report in English for the final presentation was also a very meaningful experience. I still keep in touch with them through social media, which makes me feel I’ve built good relationships with them beyond the border.
Talking with them about environmental preservation and economic development and summarizing in a report in English for the final presentation was also a very meaningful experience. I still keep in touch with them through social media, which makes me feel I’ve built good relationships with them beyond the border.
Q3. What influence has your experiences in this program had on your future career?
I participated in this program with the goal of improving my English and learning more about Islamic culture, and I feel that this experience will have a significant influence on my future career. For instance, in my major, finance, it’s very important to understand behaviors and economic trends from the viewpoint of different cultures and customs. The experience of seeing things from various perspectives will positively influence how I study in the future.
Q4. Looking back on your study abroad experience, what advice would you give to students considering studying abroad?
The most appealing aspect of studying abroad in Brunei is being able to experience Islamic culture. By experiencing Islamic culture, which is something that you can’t really do in everyday life, you can develop various viewpoints and ways of thinking. I think that exposing many students to different cultures while they’re still young will bring about change to society. It takes a lot of courage to embark on an adventure to the unknown world and you may feel uneasy, but if you dare to try it as a student, it may broaden your future potential. Go ahead and give it a try.