Afbeelding
“I’m doing a human resources management degree and needed to do a minor in the same field. I’d actually signed up to do International Business Strategy but when I got here to NHL Stenden, I realised it was a 30 credits minor lasting from February to July – but I could only stay until April as that’s when my internship would start. Thankfully, everyone was really understanding and helpful and I was able to switch to Leading and Understanding Human Behaviour and Enterprise in Organisations. It’s proven to be a really good move as it covers so much of what I need to know in human resource management. When you deal with people, sometimes you have to be the leader of the team and sometimes you will be part of the team. Either way, you have to know how to deal with others. You have to understand people’s behaviour and how to manage them.”
Culture shock is just a moment
“Of course, my learning experience stretches beyond the subject matter of the minor. I’m also learning lots from how the minor is taught and from being in a different environment and culture. The open-minded discussions particularly stand out. We’ve discussed things that I've never discussed before because it's not in my religion or in my culture. For instance, I have a gay teacher. That's not something we could have in Morocco, so though I was first surprised to see a man in heels, then I understood, it's ok, I'm just not used to seeing it and now I have. You know you don't have to dwell in these culture shock moments; you have to move on. The shock is just for a few minutes or a few days and then you make it normal. I'm not here to be the Moroccan Muslim girl and not mix with other people, or not try and understand them. If I was like that, then I should have stayed in Morocco. But I'm not: I'm here to discover everything. I still keep my culture and do my prayers. I'm not obliged to drink, dance or act like others, but I can join them. And that's true for any individual. I'm not the same as my sister or my parents, so how can I be the same as people I didn't grow up with? It's ok to have differences, but we also have to understand each other. Everyone has their own way of thinking and there isn't a right or wrong way. And you certainly can’t judge people you haven’t even met. I'm saying this all because we've experienced it so much in this minor.”
Understand through doing
“The way of teaching here at NHL Stenden is like the practical application of what we’re learning. For instance, as part of this minor, each student takes on the role of teacher for a session. It gives us the experience of what it’s like to manage a group, present a topic, lead and follow the flow of a conversation and discuss questions. It’s completely different to just giving a presentation: you have to take your skills to another level. I think my generation wants to be able to put theory into practice more. We need the space to express ourselves and understand and practice things so that we can understand them better - and I’m not sure I could have found this approach anywhere else.”
Find out more about your study abroad opportunities and the minors on offer. Mariam’s minor in Leading and Understanding Human Behaviour and Enterprise in Organisations is offered by the Business Administration programme and you can find out more about the degree on the study programme’s website.