Three of our students tell their story

Read about how three of our scholarshipholders feel about the University, their education and the city of Gothenburg.

Liangchen Xu, The University of Gothenburg Scholarship

Patrick Chanda, Swedish Institute Scholarship

Henry Kalisti, Swedish Institute Scholarship

Liangchen Xu

-Why did you choose to study here?

I like Sweden since it has a totally different culture and environment from my home country and that is very attractive for me. Plus, since my bachelor degree is International Economics and Trade, I would like to further my study in the best business school in Sweden.

-What did receiving a scholarship mean for you?

Receiving a scholarship meant a lot for me, due to the scholarship, I have the opportunity to study here. And it also helped me ease the economic pressures to some extent. If I did not receive the scholarship, I would have to have a part-time job and make money. In that case, perhaps, I wouldn't have enough time and power to pay all attention to my courses.

-What do you think about the University and your education?

The University of Gothenburg is amazing in my opinion, and I love the architecture of this university. For instance, my home school Handels has a very beautiful building and surrounding, such as the high-quality library, computer room and cafeteria. About the education, I have never experience such a heavy workload at my Chinese university, but it is really helpful, and give me much knowledge. I can improve myself through the process of doing a papers. We also meet people who come from a certain companies and introduce useful information for our future career.

- What do you think about Gothenburg?

I like Gothenburg very much, it is my first place visiting outside my home country, and it satisfies all the imagination about the western city, with a river across the downtown, traditional church, friendly birds, natural environment, tram and music.

-What do you hope for in the future, after your studies are completed?

I hope I can apply my international business knowledge to the practical work in a Swedish multinational company that has a branch office in China or a close cooperation with China.

Patrick Chanda

-Why did you choose to come here?

I chose to come here because the University of Gothenburg recognizes personal initiative and independent thinking which can give me the opportunity to develop my individual strengths and refine my academic abilities. In this regard, the university’s commitment to the principle of educational equity gave me the confidence that as a student who is from an economically disadvantaged group and in particular from Zambia which is a developing country, I would be given the opportunity to pursue Master’s Programme in Social Work and Human Rights.

Additionally, I was attracted by the master’s programme of which I believed would give me the knowledge of international, regional and national institutions of human rights, and legal applications of human rights´ conventions.

-What did receiving a scholarship mean for you?

Receiving a scholarship from the university, meant that I had a golden opportunity to pursue my master’s degree programme and thus be socially and economically empowered, especially that I am from an economically disadvantaged family which cannot afford to pay fees for my master’s programmme.

-What do you think about the University and your education?

The University of Gothenburg has an open climate, with a strong focus on group work. Thus, the master’s degree programme will offer me an unusual opportunity to turn theory into practice. More so, this supportive environment will allow me to have personal initiative and independent thinking which can give me the opportunity to develop my individual strengths and refine my academic abilities.

- What do you think about Gothenburg?

Gothenburg City is a very quiet and conducive place for studies. It gives new students, especially international students a supportive environment for academic work in terms of their living which is quite fair and affordable.

-What do you hope for in the future, after your studies are completed?

I would like to use the knowledge and skills acquired to promote social work education and practice by working with national, regional and international organizations. All in all, once I pursue my master’s programme in social work and human rights, I would like to join the University of Zambia teaching staff so as to help my country in training the social workers in issues of human rights.

Henry Kalisti

-Why did you choose to come here?

Because I like Sweden, it means a world of technologies, with a lot of positive challenges and I found that University of Gothenburg help form a significant part of this world. That is why I made my choice to come here.

-What did receiving a scholarship mean for you?

The Scholarship is a key to opportunities. I was dreaming for the best opportunities, quality education, experiences and international exposure. I had everything to achieve my dream, except money. That’s why the scholarship means a key to opportunities, for me.

-What do you think about the University and your education?

Well, the University gives me knowledge and real world challenges in my field that I hope will make significant contribution for me to get opportunities as mentioned before.

How do you like it here in Gothenburg?

Nice people, I real feel safe to live in Gothenburg.

What do you hope for in the future, after your studies are completed?

Further study (PHD of course) and Positive Contribution to Research and Consultation in ICT for development of my home country