Cultural interchange at the University of Macau
German foreign exchange student Nils Schaefer is spending four and a half months at the University of Macau (UMacau), studying Business Administration, although he is majoring in engineering. While he had the option to go somewhere like the US, Schaefer made the bold move of trying something really different.
German foreign exchange student Nils Schaefer is spending four and a half months at the University of Macau (UMacau), studying Business Administration, although he is majoring in engineering. While he had the option to go somewhere like the US, Schaefer made the bold move of trying something really different. “It was quite suddenly that I chose China. I wanted to get to know a different culture so Macau seemed like a good choice,” he explains.
And a different culture is just what he found – not just in society, but in his studies too. “It is different here, in every aspect. I find local students are more introverted and less social because they’re very focused on their studies and careers,” Schaefer says.
Schaefer says it took him some time to adapt, but while European students enjoy having fun and he bonds more easily with other international students, he has found it quite positive to focus so much on work. “I’ve never spent so much time in a library as I have here. I’m so busy I forget about the rest of life. The new campus is quite self-contained which really supports studying. There are so many people, and you can spend almost two weeks here without leaving. It’s quite something!” he says.
Noticing subtle variances between international and local students, Schaefer says he has benefited from this difference. “Locals can be quite quiet in group work and I noticed that international students often end up taking charge. It gives me some understanding about working internationally and how to understand and respect someone else’s culture and be sensitive to their ideas, so that’s useful for my future,” he explains.
Schaefer says he had not experienced a university where attendance was so important before. “In Germany, I can miss a lecture if I want to, either because I’m too tired or have another deadline. But here, the teaching staff are very attentive. They check attendance and keep you from straying too far from the course content.”
Project work is also new to Schaefer. “We have a lot of project work, so it’s actually great that everyone attends class and knows their roles,” he explains. “Now I’m used to the course structure and how the professors express themselves, I feel very supported here.”
Schaefer says his time at UMacau had really made him think about himself, his life and his relationships. “I’m so grateful for everything I have received. In Asia I’ve seen that some people work really hard for what they have. I’m more aware now,” he says.
“As a future engineer, it’s important for me to be aware of social environments, especially in the workplace. I need to be able to guide and lead people and understand their different backgrounds and cultures, as well as family backgrounds. So the social and interpersonal things I have learned here will help me.” Smiling confidently, Schaefer says he plans to work in the manufacturing industry in Germany – but he might study a bit more first.
