Poised for greater heights, Unisa student soars in Romania

Unisa is currently making significant cross-continental headways with its partnerships, such as the European Union's Erasmus Plus Programme, an effort intended at promoting education and training, with a particular emphasis on social inclusion and digital transformation, among other things. Mobility (exchange) is one of the programme's essential features, in which academics, students, or staff from the programme or partner countries that have joined Erasmus Plus get to expand into different higher learning institutions from European Union (EU) member states to share knowledge and expand research and collaborations as outlined in the EU's Digital Education Action Plan and the European Skills Agenda.

Qhama Mati

The Romanian-American University (RAU), located in the capital of Romania, Bucharest, prides itself as a private institution specialising in international business. This year the institution is celebrating its 32^nd anniversary.

Qhama Mati, Unisa's Deputy President of the National Student Representative Council, is currently doing a semester programme in International Business Studies at RAU. This initiative is made possible by Unisa's partnership with Erasmus Plus. Mati, a final year LLB student, says she looks forward to studying a new course outside of law studies. This she attributes to how the world is rapidly evolving. She states: "The fact that we live in an ever-changing society that requires diverse and vast learning experiences is evidence for one to digest and accumulate as much knowledge as possible. Unlike a manufactured gadget, the mind has unlimited power and storage."  

Mati says this course's features will immensely benefit her law studies towards a master’s degree and the prospects of venturing into business. She states: "At a personal level, I will be gaining new and diverse knowledge with which I will be able to add value in my future endeavours, including but not limited to my future career path and future studies at master’s level. In addition, I am hoping that at the end of my studies, I will be inspired to open a sustainable business that will benefit my community and those around me." 

Economic emancipation

Mati says that she has always been interested in business, seeing it as one of the most potent means of economic emancipation outside the usual dictates of living standards. She points out that International Business Studies will give her a more profound sense and knowledge of the international financial flow and an understanding of the global impact of businesses and how some corporations manage to survive even the harshest economic downturns, including natural disasters and the COVID-19 pandemic. 

New environment, new firsts

Qhama says she had anticipated this trip to Romania with bated breath because of its new and diverse experience, which, she adds, is part of her many "firsts". She continues: "It is my first time travelling outside the continent, studying an international business course, and being away from home for many months.  

She states that a trip to any new destination can be a bit overwhelming because one has a lot of questions about what the experience will be like and whether one can cope. Still, eventually, she says she managed to acclimate during her first week in and around RAU, thanks to the help of a buddy.

Taking up a buddy

Mati says the first week in Romania was incredible; she got to tour the city in between and experience the train and bus rides. Overall, she says Romania is a beautiful, safe, and quiet country with icy weather conditions that she is adjusting to.

A month before going to Bucharest, Mati says she signed up for a buddy beforehand, Lonut Corniciuc, an Agriculture Engineering student from the University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest, who is currently assisting her with familiarising herself with the new environment, social settings, and the overall grasp of RAU.

She continues: "My 'buddy' also made my arrival easy by fetching me from the airport with a classmate and ensured I got to the university dormitory where I was going to fetch my room key and settle."

To fellow students, Mati advises: "Go as far as your eyes take you; most importantly, believe in yourself and remain consistent."

*By Godfrey Madibane, Acting Journalist, Department of Institutional Advancement