Bachelor Degrees Main Headline

A semester of growth and exploration: Kira’s exchange experience in the U.K.

中文摘要 / Summary in Chinese
Kira Kuok, a Year 4 student at IFTM, describes her exchange at Bournemouth University in the U.K., where academic challenges and diverse experiences fuelled her personal development

A journey of academic and personal growth – that is how Kira Kuok Ka In, a Year 4 student from the Tourism Retail and Marketing Management Bachelor’s Degree Programme at IFTM, describes her student exchange experience overseas. She spent the first semester of the current academic year as an exchange student at Bournemouth University in the United Kingdom.

Aside from the academic opportunities, the exchange broadened Kira’s horizons, exposing her to different cultures and perspectives, she says. Her newly-found appreciation for the educational system and lifestyle in the U.K. has sparked her interest in pursuing a master’s degree abroad.

Kira states that campus life at Bournemouth University was “incredible”. “Many events” took place there, and several support services were provided aimed at students’ well-being, she points out.

At Bournemouth University, courses were all taught via a mixture of lectures and seminars. A high level of interaction was possible between students and faculty members during the seminar component, Kira explains. With just one or two assignments per course, students had the flexibility to manage their study schedules and “focus on self-development”, she says.

Kira states each course at Bournemouth University promoted students’ critical thinking and the expression of individual ideas: a valuable opportunity to enhance her analytical skills. “There were no straightforward answers for each question, which was quite challenging for me,” she says.

Speaking about the opportunities provided by IFTM for students to study abroad, Kira encourages her peers to seize such chances. She underscores the significance of students conducting comprehensive research on potential exchange universities, to identify a place that aligns with their goals.

IFTM has partnerships with approximately 180 universities and tourism organisations around the world, and strong links with more than 800 leading tourism and hospitality enterprises. These ties provide exchange and internship opportunities to Institute students.