Ojok from Uganda

What is your educational and professional background?
Business Administration (specialization in Accounting and Auditing in my Bachelor Degree).

Why did you chose to enroll into this particular program at Umeå university?
It was my biggest dream to study my master program abroad. My aim was all about gaining new knowledge, meeting new people and learning different cultures in order to make me succeed with my career development. Thankfully I did it and Umeå became the right choice for me.

What do you like most about you program?
The qualities of the courses. They sharpen the mind not only on the course subject but cover all the current trends etc. The teachers approach to the course material makes me feel at the end of each module that I have learnt something I will not forget.

I love the assignments (both individual- and group-assignments). They are really challenging assignment but with tight supervision from the teachers they are really good for the learning.

This pedagogic module is very different from other universities in the world (the mode of teaching, the assignments, the relationship between teachers and students, the reading materials etc.).

At the end of the Auditing course I got time to study a minor in Finance and I really enjoyed that as I did not have much background in that subject. It compliments my field of study (Accounting).

What is the most interesting thing you learnt in your program so far?
Writing good papers (Research methodology) and presentations. I thought I knew how to do this but I realize later that I did not know anything. Writing is one of the most important things in learning and I really appreciate the opportunity to get better at it.

What do you do when you are not studying?
Hang out with friends, workout at IKSU, and party during weekends with friends.

What is you impression of Umeå and the surrounding area?
Good people, good and safe environment. (To live without fear is so amazing)

What do you find is the biggest cultural difference, both socially and educationally, between your country and Sweden?
People are hard to get to know, but they are nice once you get to know them. In terms of education there is a big difference from what I am used to. For instance, we have examination at the end of each semester while here examination is monthly. Therefore the pressure from the Swedish system is more powerful and students do not get that much time to relax. This makes the students more uniformly concentrated.

What would you say or what advice would you give to a student thinking of applying to Umeå university?
Yes it is the best university in the world, it is really 'A Home Away From Home'. The right place to stay, achieve and gain more knowledge which will be good for your career development.

What are your career aspirations?
I would wish to enroll for PhD with time, God willingly. I also wish to work with one of the Big 4 Auditing firms in any country.