Discover Edgar Aymeric's testimonial, on an academic exchange at Ottawa University
Edgar, a student in the Business Management programme at EDHEC International BBA, chose to go on an academic exchange to the University of Ottawa for a double degree in his 3rd and 4th years. In the interview below, he shares his experiences in Canada with us.
Why did you decide to do your academic exchange in Canada?
I chose Canada because I was very attracted to North American culture, and I wanted to discover Canadian culture and the people in particular.
How did you find your apartment?
I found my apartment on the Kijiji platform. I was sharing with 4 other people, including 3 students. Rents can be very high, and if you want to fit in quickly and have a good time, sharing is the best solution.
Was there a particular course that stood out for you?
During my academic exchange year, I wanted to do as many marketing-related courses as possible, as it was the field I wanted to specialise in for my 3rd year. Among the courses I liked the most were Service Marketing and Digital Marketing Technologies. The teachers are very good and the course is interesting. You’re free to choose the university courses you want (with the exception of a few compulsory courses for the degree), which means you can prioritise the ones that interest you most. But be careful not to register too late as places are limited. The courses are also shorter. As each student has his or her personal study programme, selecting their own mix of courses, it's rare to find the same student in two different courses (which means we get to meet more students). The course that stood out the most for me was International Training & Development for Sustainability, because its aim was to create a training programme for a real company/association in Ottawa. As it was a concrete case study and we had live exchanges with companies/associations, it was really very enriching.
How did your integration go?
I'm happy with my choice of academic exchange as it was easy to fit into the university, which organised a number of presentations on a wide variety of subjects. As soon as I arrived, I signed up for a soccer team and immediately started meeting locals and international students. I mixed quickly with a lot of international students, both in class and in sport and extra-curricular activities. I met Brazilians, Germans, Danes, Dutch, Chinese and many more.
What cultural differences have you noticed?
In Canada, the locals are very welcoming and smiling, but it can sometimes be hard for them to make room for you in their lives. Don't be afraid to suggest activities and go out of your way to meet them to create real ties and friendships.
