Vera Kapayeva

The language of instruction at the international master programme Software Engineering & Management is English and the students come from all over the world. Vera, who is in her final year, is from Belarus.

Vera Kapayeva wanted to live abroad, to work or study. She ended up studying in Gothenburg partly because she had friends already studying at Chalmers who could help her with the application process. But it was not that easy to find the right educational programme. Management n combination with software closed the deal

- I did not want a programme that was too technical, explains Vera who has a degree in mathematics from Belarus and has worked for a few years at the IT company Qulix Systems at home.

New teaching methods

To study in a foreign country does not just mean a different language of instruction in the class room. The problem based learning and project oriented approach was also new to Vera.

- It is more similar to the work environment but can also be difficult for some students, says Vera who still thinks it’s a suitable method on master’s level for students with a bit working experience.

Also the way of looking at management is new to her.

- In Belarus management is more structured and aggressive, here it is more kind which makes the work more relaxed. This increases creativity which in its turn leads to better solutions but it also requires more time.

During her studies Vera has learned to listen to others and trust other people’s abilities as well as how to handle different people and cultural differences. The negative experiences have also been instructive Vera tells meaning communication problems because of language and cultural diversity.

Language challenges

The language has been a great challenge, both Swedish and English. Even though Vera had the qualifications needed she felt her skills were not good enough and in the beginning it was stressful to keep presentations in English. English is not a problem anymore, now Vera worries about her Swedish. After nearly two years Gothenburg has become her home, she wishes to stay here but not speaking Swedish fluently might stop her from getting a job, she believes.

- I have my friends here, both old and new ones, Vera says. This is where I live. Gothenburg is the perfect size, not too small and not too big.