STUDENT ALUMNI AMBASSADORS

INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENT “A truly international university experience was also on top ofmy wish list. The faculty’s international student body has not just fulfilled but far exceeded my expectations. I have met people from countries as far east as Korea and as far west as the Americas. I have lost count of the number of nationalities I have met since we also have our share of interaction with BBA students through joint courses. When we can attend live classes again, I am sure it will only increase.” “My favourite subject is economics because it reaches beyond its domain and explains how things work in real life. The course equips you with a way of thinking about cause and effect, which I found truly mind-opening. You can see it happen in front of your eyes, in the news and apply it in any situation. The most challenging course is mathematics, even if I scored pretty well on that subject in the past. However, its complexity puts me more at ease with other subjects. If I can manage the maths, I should be able to pass the other exams as well.”

TEN MINUTES WALK “I also enjoy the joint organisation with the Université Saint-Louis,which is a 10-minutes’ walk from KU Leuven’s Brussels Campus. As a student of two universities, you gain access to the facilities, student bodies and specialisations of both institutions. Saint-Louis has more French-speaking local students - a nice addition to KU Leuven’s international public. One - small - issue maybe: they both have their own online platform and email system, so I do have to keep up with a lot of messages, especially since everything happens online nowadays.” “Due to practical hurdles because of the pandemic I only arrived in Belgium on 31st August 2020. By the time I got my visa, finding student accommodation was no longer evident. Apart from that, I had no big issues but for some people, things were more complicated. The first few weeks of the academic year we could attend classes in limited groups. In October the regulations became stricter and everything went online – inconvenient, but not a real problem. The university has been doing its part to help. We get a lot of emails pointing us to the right services and student counsellors for mental support and help with practical questions, such as the ISP and using the study portal.” “COVID evidently impacts social life, because it hardly leaves opportunities to meet people and unfortunately I had not been able to attend the orientation week at the start of the academic year. Social media has played a big role in socialising and getting to know fellow students. Over time we have been able to connect, for instance via WhatsApp groups and, oddly enough,thanks to group assignments.”

ONE BIG CAMPUS "As a unique place that unites people from all over the world, KU Leuven offers the opportunity to expand cultural horizons and boost academic research. The city of Leuven is much smaller than Moscow and feels like one big campus, where you are constantly surrounded by other students and in touch with research. I absolutely enjoy that genuine student experience.” “Support was good from the time applied up until I arrived in Belgium in September 2019. I often used the FEB Advisor and always found people to answer my questions. As a newcomer, I had a buddy from Leuven. She helped me a lot to get acquainted with the study system and the Toledo platform. She also invited me to dinner and showed me around town. A buddy is a great addition to the welcome sessions by the student organisation. The introduction week for international students was the best immersive experience to overcomedoubts or fears. It kept us busy every day with guided tours,events and sessions about study-related initiatives. When you meet other international students who have just arrived, you realise that you are not the only newcomer.” “My advice for prospective students: if you feel lost, just ask questions. I hardly knew anything about Belgium when I embarked on this adventure, but I have always found people willing to help. I even was able to arrange my accommodation online beforehand. So don’t be afraid to ask. Contact an ambassador from your country to learn about life and practical stuff. I found that very helpful, so now it is my turn to share my experience and give advice." "The faculty and professors helped me improve my quantitative and science-based skills. My favourite course is Architecture and Modelling of Management Information Systems since information technology is my passion and the direction I prefer for my professional career. The course was offered - before COVID - through blended learning with both online and offline parts. That has proven to be very useful. Teaching the more difficult parts online allows you to acquire that knowledge at your own pace. Interesting assignments helped to get a better understanding of the subject too. After the course, I really felt on top of the matter and ready to use it professionally. It even inspired the topic for my master’s thesis, which included a chance to conduct academic research. That was great so I hope I can finish my master’s programme with distinction, as I would very much like to start my career as a PhD researcher at the faculty – and get the chance to further explore Europe.”

LEUVEN: CAPITAL OF INNOVATION “I also experienced working for a Belgian company through an internship organised by Academics for Companies. With a team of students, we tackled business problems through data visualisation. After a few meetings with the client, the pandemic hit and we had to collaborate online, but that did not affect the outcome. Everybody was satisfied and some of the solutions we presented, were deployed. It was a cool experience that improved my soft skills.” “I feel lucky to have arrived before the pandemic. Of course life is different now, but I am so used to online classes that it almost feels normal. The early blended learning experience familiarised me with the online learning platform - a great advantage once offline classes were suspended. Due to the restrictions socialising is more difficult, but I have a bubble of close friends of whom I see quite a lot these days. To still meet new people, I ask to be assigned to a random group for group assignments. In addition, the university has plenty of online initiatives to help us through the pandemic. I really enjoyed the AND festival, for which I was offered tickets through Academics for Technology. And I have been walking a lot. I definitely know my way around Leuven by now and have visited many places of interest in Belgium. Bruges is a beautiful city to discover, especially during these quiet COVID-times. I like to wander there when I need to think. I do miss taking a train to visit nice places, such as Paris or Amsterdam, which is normally very easy as Belgium is at the centre of Europe - an extra reason to go for the PhD.” “Studying in Leuven is the best way to experience student life and research. The city is a true capital of innovation with an international atmosphere. I made friends from different countries and live in a multicultural community - an unforgettable experience. The university’s renown reflects on both your education and career. The knowledge I acquired is priceless and inspires confidence in myself, that I will be able to offer organisations and companies something extra.”

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