International Marketing BX3082: There were a few repetitions in this subject, but also new things to learn. The final grade consisted of a first assignment in which a PESTEL analysis of a company and country of your choice was summarized in a PowerPoint. Then you come together in a group of four and combine the presentations into one. The presentation of these flows into the note. The second assignment was the deepening of the first, in which a complete marketing plan should be drawn up for the selected company and country (also in the group). The final exam still counted 40%.
Organizational Behavior BX3171: This course was my credit filler. In terms of content, it was primarily about HR, especially motivation and leadership. The first and second assignment each consisted of a case study. The first in a group of two as a summary and evaluation in a PowerPoint, the second in a group of four in a 10-page report. The exam counts 50%.
Cross-Cultural Management BX3052: This subject also consisted of two assignments and a short online test as a mid-term exam. The first assignment was the preparation of a country report related to a company. The 3-4 groups were drawn by lot. The second assignment was the presentation of the draft. The exam only counted 30% of the final grade. A very interesting course, albeit with a few repetitions from previous semesters.
Financial Management BX2014: In this course, I personally learned the most, as we also received a lot of information about the financial market beyond the material. The lecturer tried very hard and was also committed to understanding during the tutorials. As a mid-term there was also a short online test as well as journal entries and an essay, which were supposed to document the learning progress. The final exam still counted 60%.
Living in Singapore
Since I come from a rural area in Germany, my stay in Singapore was my first experience in a big city, especially in Asia. What impressed me most about Singapore were the different cultures that all live together peacefully in a confined space. Be it Indians, Chinese, Indonesians, Malays, Japanese or expats from the West. In Singapore everything comes together and yet there are hardly any cultural conflicts, rather a diversity emerges that makes Singapore unique.
In my first two weeks in the hostel I already met a good friend from India who also studied at JCU and who accompanied me during my stay. From her I learned a lot about Indian culture, beliefs and of course the fantastic Indian food. Our weekly trips to Little India were always a highlight.
Aside from Little India, there is plenty to see and do in Singapore. Downtown with the Marina Bay Sense Hotel and the famous Merlion are always worth a visit, but an evening in one of the countless bars at Clarkes Quay is also wonderful. Even those who like to party will not miss out on Singapore’s colorful nightlife. In addition, a trip to the Singapore Zoo should not be missed. The open enclosure makes it the most beautiful I’ve been to so far. A day trip to Pulau Ubin is also a great way to get out of the big city and enjoy nature. To do this, you simply take a small boat from Changi Village to cross over to the island. There you can go hiking and especially cycling.
Another attraction in Singapore is the Botanical Garden, which recently became a World Heritage Site, and the leisure island “Sentosa”, which lies in front of Singapore and with all sorts of amusement / water parks, casinos, restaurants and beaches, definitely contributes to a successful weekend. All places are always easily accessible by MRT (the subway), which runs every few minutes, or buses.
- Learn more information about the country of Singapore and continent of Asia on a2zcamerablog.
Another advantage of Singapore is its good location in Asia, which allows many excursions across national borders. For example, I spent a long weekend with a fellow student in Jakarta and was in Melaka and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia over Christmas. After my semester in Singapore, I added two weeks of vacation to Thailand. Fellow students were also in Vietnam, Hong Kong and Bali, all of which can be easily reached from Singapore.
Conclusion
Singapore is rightly referred to as “Asia for beginners”, which in my opinion doesn’t make it any less attractive as a place to study. It offers a high level of security and, above all, all the amenities of a big city, such as shopping and dining options on every corner, as well as the excellent transport system. Nevertheless, the unique mix of Asian cultures is fascinating and the perfect location invites you to get to know them on site. The study is time-consuming due to the many group work, but due to the small number of lectures, there is still the necessary free time for travel. And if you don’t want to go beyond the borders: There is also all sorts of new things to discover in Singapore, which open up a new perspective. Even if there were difficult moments in this semester, it was precisely these that have made me grow personally and I can only recommend everyone to use these experiences. In any case, I really enjoyed my time in Singapore and am already looking forward to my next visit to this great city.
