‘A Universe of Ideas’: Master's Student from Cameroon on Studying in Russia and the Multicultural Environment at HSE University–St Petersburg
Kingsly Nji Nche enrolled in the Master's programme 'International Business in the Asia-Pacific Region' at HSE University–St Petersburg after studying journalism in Cameroon. Read on to find out how the media is related to economics and what the advantages of studying at a multicultural university are.
— Where did you study before HSE University–St Petersburg?
— I am from northwest Cameroon. This region is considered English-speaking, with French as the second official language. In my bachelor's programme, I studied journalism at the Advanced School of Mass Communication (ASMAC), one of the leading universities for media specialists training in Africa.
Since 2018, I have been working with the largest media companies from Germany, France, and other countries. For them, I prepared articles, conducted fact-finding missions, and produced TV stories. The experience of communicating with colleagues from different countries radically changed my way of thinking. At first, I stopped seeing Cameroon as a country in a vacuum: it has neighbours, relations with them, and it is a part of a large continent. Africa is also integrated into the global system, which unites all the countries. Expertise in different spheres allows us to see and forecast global trends, which shaped my interest in international business.
— What led you to HSE University–St Petersburg?
— My friend Samuel Ayuk studied international business at HSE University–St Petersburg and was an ambassador of the university for two years. He told me a lot about scholarship programmes, daily life, and the study process. Everything seemed quite interesting and appealing, so I thought, why not try it. My friends helped me to prepare all the necessary documents.
I have always been a fan of economics—since secondary school, I've adored this subject. HSE University–St Petersburg offered just the right programme, 'International Business in the Asia-Pacific Region,' which united my interests and background. In this programme, I saw a great opportunity to remember all the concepts which I've already covered, and learn something new.
— What was your first semester at HSE University–St Petersburg like?
— Economics is a very broad area. Even when it seems like you know everything, you discover some details into which you can dive headfirst. So all the courses, without any exceptions, were really exciting.
With Dmitry Rudenko, associate professor at the Department of Economics, we discovered how direct foreign investments influence economic growth and studied the factors that allow countries to get privileges in the world markets.
The course on project management was the main discovery of the semester. I have never immersed myself in this subject, so I was eager to attend the classes and learnt a lot—for instance, how to move consistently towards bringing your ideas to life with the help of project management methods. I also liked the lectures on place branding. I was already acquainted with core disciplines, but the concepts of territorial development are very inspiring.
I joined the international team working on the promotion of HSE University–St Petersburg, and I work as a journalist under the supervision of Marina Matetskaya, associate professor at the Department of Management. It helps me to maintain my professional skills. For instance, I wrote an article about the Student Day held in the Rope Shop building in late January.
— What is the most important thing you've learnt in the master's programme?
— For decades, even centuries, Africa was considered an underdeveloped continent. It is similar in many ways to Asian countries. Now, even China is called a developing market, though it is an advanced country. There is Hong Kong, Singapore, and Japan—they are also experiencing a boom.
The master's programme showed that Africa and Asia have a lot in common. China is rightly one of the largest partners of many African countries in the sphere of export and other areas.
If you come to Cameroon, you'll be surprised: there are a lot of Chinese people who have fully adopted the local traditions and cultural nuances. They speak French and English and live like the locals. We adopt progressive business models and share ours—this is a guarantee for economic growth.
— Was it easy to adapt to Russia?
— I wasn't fully ready for the weather, though you get used to low temperatures with time. I also had to sort out documents and get a local SIM card.
Other than that, I can say that I am crazy in love with Russia. When I didn't know the city well yet, people always helped me. I am happy to be in such a welcoming country.
In terms of studies, the year started very smoothly, and the workload was increasing gradually. Now, almost every day, we have lectures, project defences, and presentations. But I got used to this tempo back in the bachelor's programme. Studies come easily to me; I can focus on the main things.
— Does HSE University help you to bring your talent to light?
— My groupmates are from different countries and parts of the world: China, Tajikistan, Pakistan, and Africa. It gives us a chance to get to know other cultures. We not only study during classes but also exchange business practices and economic approaches.
In English, the word 'university' is assonant to the word 'universe'. I believe it is a great metaphor. HSE University–St Petersburg is a huge space for implementing ideas, where undiscovered potential is revealed.
— What would you recommend to international students coming to HSE University?
— I had a whole year to prepare for moving here, but I still missed one thing. That is why my main advice is to learn Russian in advance. Now, I already know how to count to a hundred in Russian, and I've learnt the alphabet and some daily phrases. But it is better to be prepared to feel more confident, especially at first, to make friends outside the university more quickly and understand the culture more deeply.
