French party

Experiencing France

Last week we had a very nice French party organized by exchange students from France. This party took place in one of the student residences. There were a lot of students from different courses and countries, not only from IBEX. So we had a chance to meet new people from Hogeschool Rotterdam and also from Inholland university (that is one the most popular universities in the Netherlands).

Cheese, red, white, pinkish good wine, some French in our ears and during one night we come back in France. Sharing, having discussions, fun, that is what we had at this meeting. We communicated with the foreigners about our cultures, our experiences. We tried some French specialties, danced with French people. Just had French fun!!!

An evening under the sign of the happiness and the “bonne franquette”, which leave us still full of beautiful memories!

How we see the way of teaching…

We come from different countries all over the Europe and the ways of teaching in our universities differ from what we’re experiencing here. We have 6 Dutch students in our group and the IBEX program is new for them as well.

The Dutch student’s opinion:

Probably, you all know how hard some subjects are to study when you do your normal course: you have to prepare thoroughly for your exams; school projects usually take a lot of time, there are tons of homework and etc. With IBEX it’s more about freedom than doing things within a strict schedule. Within the IBEX project we are allowed to make our own decision on how we want things to be done. That means that we are having additional challenges.

Normal courses usually have a lot of study hours; weeks seem to be very long and boring. Within IBEX instead of those “long” days you have the shorter ones which are full of practice and interactive lectures.

Teachers explain theory in more practical and appearing manner. This allows us to put what we’ve learned into practice - in our project.

Meeting new people is another reason for joining IBEX. In my class we have about 7 different nationalities, but there are people wi

th different backgrounds (half American/Germans and half Sweden/Namibians are some of the examples).

Now it is time for Dutch students to look for the internship abroad and I find an acc

omplishment of the IBEX program experience as a big advantage for my CV. Not just because of the fact it is an additional line in my resume, but because it reflects that I posses communication and business skills that are always appreciated by employers.

The Foreign student’s opinion:

When the IBEX semester started I experienced a shock from the study approach! This is completely different way of teaching comparing to my country. Imagine the class with 100 students sitting and trying to listen to the teacher who is 100 metres away speaking. This is impossible! Moreover, the teacher speaks in so monotonous manner that most of the students just leave the lecture. Too much homework to do, too many things to write during the lecture, to many reports to prepare at home, too many things to learn by heart… that is how it goes abroad. There is absolutely no time for rest, meet your friends during the week and sometimes even during the weekend.

The IBEX program is what I really enjoy! There is not that big emphasis on learning things than on understanding them. Teachers try their best to open up our minds and put ideas inside about how we can use our own potential. Lectures are interesting all the time; teachers prepare very creative assignments and case studies; students after working in groups come up with brilliant and funny ideas. I should say that being in the IBEX program is a lot of fun with the result for the future carrier. We do not have to write a lot while the lecturer speaks, because he presents his ideas in such practical and accessible way that it is already enough if you understand it. There is no need to learn books by heart.

So, as you can see, IBEX is appreciated not only by the foreign students, but also by the Dutch students who can see the difference in study approaches in the university!

Interview IBEX teacher

1. What is your name?

Hans van Oudheusden, Head of International Relations

2. Which classes do you teach?

Business Skills

3. Is it hard to teach in English?

It is not hard, but sometimes you need more time for preparation.

4. Do students have any difficulties concerning the English language?

Well, generally it is not a problem. I would say that 90% of all international students here have a good or at least a sufficient level of English. Some students struggle, but I admire their courage. After all, you can only improve yourself if you try and go for it.

5. What do you think about the IBEX programme itself?

It is a perfect combination of Marketing and Finance. Our philosophy is: a marketing specialist without financial knowledge is a lousy marketeer and vice versa. In International Business both disciplines are equally important. So that is why the IBEX semester offers modules which are focusing on very different areas. Furthermore, modules like Project and Business Skills contribute to other qualities, to students’ soft skills. IBEX is a complete package: core modules + some electives. Last year international students with only a marketing background had some difficulties with the finance-oriented modules. That is why we made some changes in the way we offer those modules. I am quite confident everything will go well this semester. It is all about the efforts you are willing to put in.

6. What is your prospective goal in terms of education (what can students expect from your lessons)?

Students can expect interactive classes. No lessons where you can lean back; you will be challenged. And, of course, our focus is international. Our aim is to prepare students for the international business world. Employability is the key principle.

7. Which benefits do you see for IBEX students in comparison to regular classes?

IBEX is something special, completely different from what normal classes are. I already mentioned the broad business perspective. But moreover, students from different nationalities (right now we have students from seven different countries in one class!) have completely different mindsets. That makes IBEX very interesting and adds a big advantage to the programme. And, of course, participating in IBEX is a huge plus for your CV!

8. What is the difference between a Dutch student and a student from abroad?

Sometimes students from abroad seem to be more motivated. But in a way that is understandable. They actually made the decision to go abroad, they thought everything through. Most Dutch students still live at home and have to deal with their daily routine; their lives have changed less dramatically.

Students from abroad are more eager to get good marks. Most Dutch students do not seem to care; they just want to pass their exams.

9. This is the second year of the IBEX program, did all students from last year pass the IBEX programme?

Last year we had 26 students participating in the programme (13 international students ,13 Dutch students). 22 students out of 26 passed their exams successfuly and got the IBEX certificate, the rest of the class had to do resits.

10. Do you have any advice for the current and new IBEX students?

You have to be motivated and your English should be reasonably good.

Most important: Enjoy it! You only get out what you are prepared to put in. So make contact with students from other countries, do many things together, cooperate, learn many things about different cultures.! Do not treat this course as a normal one.

Make IBEX to something special!

Interview student

Interview with the IBEX student:

1. Let start with the first question, what is your name and age?

Marc, 23

2. Where are you from?

Germany

3. Why did you choose for the IBEX-semester?

I was attracted by the mixture of core modules and project work with other international students.

4. What did you expect from the IBEX-semester?

Working independently as a group with the support of supervisers. Get business experience.

5. Have your expectations been fulfilled?

Partly / Not yet ( subject to change )

6. You are a student from abroad, was it hard for you to find a place to live here in the Netherlands?

I arranged the housing with the help of the student housing office, which was very easy.

7. What is your opinion about the lectures?

Some are not efficient enough. (too many hours for little output) Lectures are challenging if you are looking at the entire program.

8. Do you have time left to do other things besides school?

Yes, but little.

9. How is the student live in the Netherlands?

It´s awesome and I enjoy every moment of the erasmus life.

10. What would you like to recommend to the next IBEX students?

Prepare to be thrown in at the deep end. This is very challengeing, but also a lot of fun when it comes to managing your own project.

Comments

Saphia E. H. / France: For me the IBEX program is a very good experience in the sense that it brings new methods of work, learning, of approaching subject. The IBEX program is also a mixture of culture that allows first of all open-mindedness on the outside world, and also it make you understand a different way of thinking.

Tangy D. / Scotland: IBEX is a very great way for student to get international experience. It is a program that implements its academic training and exercises into practice by helping the students work close with local and international companies in order to in hence their business professionalism.

Josef Z. / Czech Republic: Ibex program is very interesting for me, I find the courses very attractive. I think, that is awesome to see a lot of kind of international cultures and I think that the IBEX program is a great benefit for all future merchant.

Marc C. / Germany: IBEX is a great opportunity to live and work in a globalized world, that everybody speaks about, but that students rarely experience. The first time during my study I really got the feeling that the whole world is connected. Students learn to work independently, but are still part of a group that strives for one goal.

Marta A./ Latvia: IBEX is something i have never participated in before. New approach of studying, nice and open teachers, friendly class atmosphere - that is what I really like about this program. I am sure it is worth trying to get into it and enjoy this experience! Good luck!"

Charlotte B. / France: IBEX is for me a business experience unforgettable. I met people from all over the Europe; we exchanged, and learnt a lot about the different cultures. Classes are very interesting, more attractive and we speak about the real business world. If you want open your mind and discover a part of the world… IBEX program is for you!

Let's get started

The first week was a very interesting and fascinating one! Especially for the foreign students, who used to enjoy new country’s atmosphere without their family and friends around. New environment seemed to be unusual at the beginning because of new people, various cultures & different languages. We did not know what to expect from being here for a couple of weeks before meeting with other students. Thanks to the help of Dutch student buddies, we started to discover this marvellous city!

Everybody was waiting for the introduction week and everything started from the 16th of February!

The introduction week begun with an international dinner during which we met each other for the first time (everyone presented its own country with national food and drinks). We had a lot of fun while communicating with each other and with teachers and learning new table games. One the next day we had a puzzle route through the city of Rotterdam followed by a delicious diner in a real Dutch “poffertjeskraam”. We tried abnormally small, but very delicious Dutch pancakes!

Our 3rd day together was the most exciting day of the intro week: we went out without teachers to the beach of Hoek van Holland. It was extremely windy and cold. But fortunately, we had each other to warm up! After a few group assignments we went to a cafe and had a wonderful dinner! We continued getting to know each other and we felt like a family. We didn’t want to lose this feeling, so we decided to continue the party in the city.

This was the first but not least week we spent together!

To be continued..

Welcome to the IBEX world

So, here we are the 2^nd promotion of IBEX program. We are going to share with you our experience and thoughts about this international exchange. Hope that it will be interesting and useful for you and other next coming IBEX students.

We are the group of 16 students from all over the Europe: Spain, Germany, Sweden, Latvia, France, Check Republic and the Netherlands. We are people with different nationalities and different backgrounds. In our IBEX group we have more than a few people, who have duel nationalities, so it means that we are even more international!

The program includes marketing and finance subjects and all of them are taught in English. A difficulty you will notice quickly is how some things in English are called differently then what you are used to. Don’t worry! Nobody will blame you, because you are here especially to learn and to improve you knowledge. But after some weeks you will not even notice how you start thinking in English.

You may say that 16 students is not so much for the whole program. But we would answer that this is our advantage: we can learn about each other more. Even studies seem easier with people you know well!

So welcome to IBEX! Enjoy it the way we do!