Ms Selma Shiponeni - Bachelor of Informatics
Brief: Participated in the Autumn School at the Flensburg University of Applied Sciences in Germany
You recently visited the Flensburg University of Sciences, Tell us about your visit; How did you know about it, what was the purpose and the duration? I recently visited Flensburg University of Applied Sciences in Germany together with Toivo Toivo. We attended the Autumn School from the 17th to 26th September 2017. It is my lecture who informed me about this student exchange programme. We have visited a number of industries in the Flensburg region that included Intershalt (logistics software), Krones (manufacturing), TNT (warehouse) and Flensburg Brewery (processes). We also had excursions to the Port of Hamburg as well as a trip to the neighbouring country Denmark.
What new knowledge have you acquired and what contribution can you make to benefit the NUST community? In Germany, people are living a digital life. This got me thoughts of initiating something, for the study of computer to be, enforce in school from pre –primary, so that the youth can know how to use and cope with technology from an younger age, to prevent them from the harsh struggle in their first years at university.
What value does this visit add to your academic/student leadership life? As a leader I have learned how to be on time. I met a lot of professors that mentored me on the importance of focusing on my study and to chase my dream while I am still young.
Apart from the Flensburg University of Applied Sciences, did you visit any other Institutions? If yes, please share your experience. We have not really visited other universities but we participated in a workshop titled “The growing Digital trends” and took part in a “Supply Chain Simulation game” together with our counterparts from Kenya, Cameroon and German.
How did you experience the cultural differences? Living in Germany one has to be Punctual. Everything is quite expensive, however, it is one of the safest place to travel and is well organised. They make use of technology to make their lives easier on the daily basis and I really loved their form of transport. I found their railway so cosy and organised. German is the official and predominant spoken language in Germany.
Overall, what impressed you the most as an SRC at NUST? What impressed me is that students have a free bus travelling around the city all day picking and dropping student, but yet most students prefer riding bikes and walking to campus and they all just make it on time. Students were very kind and helpful.
Success quote! Always remember that preparedness and punctuality are the most important qualities of a dreamer. Please do travel; it is one of the most rewarding forms of introspection.