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My name is Brigid Shine, I am a BEd3 Business Studies
student and I am writing to report back from an amazing experience
in Mumbai, India. I took part in the Study India programme, which
I had the privilege of attending thanks to King's College in London,
UKIERI, and a generous grant from the British Council obtained
through the International Office at St Mary's.
The programme consisted of a three-week study programme in the
prestigious HR College, Mumbai, in which we were given an insight
into 'Living and Working in India', the soon-to-be business capital
of the world. I travelled along with 80 other students from universities
across the UK, to the financial capital of Mumbai, where the British
Council, in association with UKIERI, put us up in a hotel, provided
us with food, transport, support and a packed itinerary for three
weeks. We studied the economy in India from a variety of different
perspectives; Bollywood to the slums, social entrepreneurship
to corruption. We had the opportunity to learn about the education
system in India from the perspective of both municipal, private
and NGO schools, we gained a cultural insight into the life of
the Indian people through interaction with students, plenty of
Indian cuisine; we were even treated to the Ganpati festival which
was celebrated during our time in Mumbai! In our final week we
participated in a work placement within an NGO, working with some
of the most impoverished people in the city; street kids.
At the close of the programme, I was among selected students
to be offered a prestigious place in SP Jain Business School in
Singapore (partner of HR College of Business and Commerce of Mumbai)
for the spring term, for an ‘all-expenses paid’ semester
in Singapore, to study business and economics. I kindly refused
due to the 'minor obstacle' of teaching practice/third year/exams/degree-to-maintain
but will certainly reap the benefits of such an offer following
graduation!
I am writing to express my sincere gratitude to the college.
I would not be encouraged to reach for fantastic opportunities
such as the Study India programme if it weren't for the support
of the college, in particular the International Office, and of
course the grants made available to us. As the only Irish student
on the trip, I feel that I promoted not only student life in Ireland,
but our college itself. Following seven months in Barcelona on
Erasmus and a further month in India, it's safe to say I have
had a truly international experience on the BEd at St Mary’s.
Brigid Shine |
