With the Summer Graduation programme for 2019 starting this week, we wanted to share some of our Graduates' success stories. Jacky Qi Zhu, will be graduating with a first class honours in Finance and Real Estate, having been part of the 2+2 programme with South China Normal University - one of our international partnerships. Here is Jacky's story:
"I am one of the first cohort graduands on the joint undergraduate degree programme in a 2+2 mode delivered by South China Normal University (SCNU) and the University of Aberdeen Business School. The programme allows students to spend their first two years at SCNU and the last two years at Aberdeen and you end up with two undergraduate degrees, as long as credit requirements for both Universities are met. I am graduating with a First Class Honours in MA Finance and Real Estate and I am proud to say I have also been awarded the Professor FG Penance Award in Land Economy for displaying the greatest academic and professional promise."
What did you most enjoy about your time at Aberdeen? Do you have any memorable student experiences?
To me, the University of Aberdeen has a warm welcoming community where I have never regretted making the decision to join this family. I particularly enjoyed my experience as a student in Real Estate at the Business School. The content of the programme covers almost every aspect of the subject and explores them rigorously. I feel that the Professors are highly motivated in the subject area, knowledgeable, approachable and I really benefitted from the personal tutoring to which I am especially grateful for and their invaluable advice on my personal development. Additionally, the theory relates well to practice, for example, there are field trips and case studies out of the classroom in year 3 and occasionally there are guest lecturers from industry who come to the lecture to share their insight and their successful career stories. It has been always perfect to learn some real-world practice through these events.
Apart from that, the Careers service team is always there providing the students lots of skills sessions focussing on interview techniques and preparation for postgraduate study etc. The final highlight for me as an international student, was the opportunity to meet different people from across the world and luckily I have gained many life-long friends which I would never have, if I hadn't choosen to come here.
If talking to a group of prospective students, what advice would you give them to help them make the most of their time at the University of Aberdeen?
My top tip for international students joining the Business School would be to work hard and play hard. Hard work is essential as luck is not always dependable and don’t forget you should learn to relax and enjoy your time at the Uni making it a unique memory of your life."
