Rebecca Chu Fall 2014 Exchange BBA in Gbus & Marketing Year 3 (4Y) Copenhagen Business School Denmark

Transcription

1 Rebecca Chu Fall 2014 Exchange BBA in Gbus & Marketing Year 3 (4Y) Copenhagen Business School Denmark

2 # Table of Contents Part I - Monthly Activity Log 1 Part II - General Exchange Information 2 Part III - Checklist 6

3 # Part I - Monthly Activity Log September 2014 Upon arriving CBS, the buddy team offered to pick me up at the airport and led me to my dorm. There are a couple things that you will need to complete before semester commences, including getting your student ID card done and obtaining CPR number etc. During the orientation organized by CBS, I received most of the information about the registration processes and academic information. After that, I chose my course during the add-drop period and visit a couple of other courses. Even you are not able to select your desired course or sections, sometimes it may be useful to meet the academic advisor as they can usually help out with that. October 2014 After settling with the course selection, there were considerable time left for doing some travelling as courses usually took place in different quarters. Also, the courses met up only once a week with much longer duration for each class. Thus, much of time you can decide what to do. I travelled to Germany, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Iceland and a couple other countries. The travelling experience was an unforgettable one. Going to Iceland would probability be one of your best travelling choices as you could not only see northern lights, but also have glacier walk, ice climbing and travelling around Golden Circle. November 2014 Since final examination was approaching, it was time to pick up some study at this point. Since readings were essential, it would be useful to join or have a discussion group with other

4 students in the class so that you could share and gain from insights. I went through all the readings and discussed with some other students so as to get prepared for the final examinations. Also, since a couple of presentations was going on this month, I was actively engaged in the group discussion in preparing the presentations. December 2014 The Final Examination month was finally here. During the gaps between final exams, I did some travelling, including Netherlands, Belgium, France and UK. Never miss the Christmas markets in Europe during Christmas as you could always find the highest variety and some of the most traditional food in those markets. Final Examination could last until early January, depending on which quarter the course started, therefore, it would be better to observe the final examination date in advance. # Part II - General Exchange Information VISA PROCEDURES As Denmark does not have a consulate in Hong Kong, applying visa (or called resident permit) can be done only by visiting Danish consulate in Guangzhou. Since the process takes considerable time, usually 1-2 months, it is suggested to apply for the visa as soon as you got the CBS information package from SBM. If by accident that you forgot certain documents needed to apply for visa, it is always helpful to bring along your true copies as they will help with photocopying the documents by instructing you to another place nearby. The high fee required for visa application in Denmark is in fact justifiable as you will got your own general practitioner (doctor) when you arrive Demark, without paying any doctor consultation fee. You will also be entitled free hospital treatment in Copenhagen as well. ORIENTATION ACTIVITIES CBS organized a week-long orientation activities for exchange students to get familiar with CBS and meet each other. The social package is recommendable as it included different social events such as the Copenhagen sightseeing boat trip, lake party and traditional folk dance. INTERNATIONAL SERVICES & ACTIVITIES In case you got any questions concerning the orientation or registration in Copenhagen, you can always approach the international office. They are usually very professional in responding your questions or they will direct you to the appropriate parties.

5 ACCOMMODATIONS Normally, CBS will arrange accommodation for exchange students on a first-come-first-served basis. But it should be noted that not all exchange students can be guarantee a place. For the opening time of the online application of accommodation, it is not stated clearly in their website. Instead, you are told to check regularly if there are any updates of the application date of housing. It is crucial to login to your online application system as soon as it opens in order to ensure yourself a place to leave in. I lived in Svanevej for the past semester. When compared to other accommodation, it is relatively economical to stay there as there are other more expensive dorm such as Tietgen Kollegiet. But of course, lower price means Svanevej s performances on some aspects are not as good as other dorm. It is located in a lower-middle class district, but it also means buying grocery and food there would be relatively cheaper and more convenient than other dorms. You are virtually surrounded by different supermarkets with reasonably-priced food. Although Svanevej was my seventh choice, from economic perspective, it would be a good option. If you are a party-lover, Svanevej is the second most popular dorm to organized party. You can virtually find at least 2 parties every week at the basement. COURSES REGISTRATION Course registration is done through online system of CBS. Since the course registration is not first-come-first-serve, you can just complete the registration before the deadline. It would also be nice if you could consult ARRO concerning credit transfer by submitting the form together with the course descriptions of the courses you would like to take in CBS as early as possible. With the preliminary information of whether your courses could be transferred back to HKUST, you can in the first place decide which course to choose, and at the later stage, amend your options in the add drop period. The courses that I took: CBS COURSES HKUST COURSES BHAAV1330U Innovation in Emerging Markets ISOM 4020 BHAAV6019U Neuromarketing MARK 3420 BHAAV1988U Retail Marketing MARK 4210 BHAAV6013U Qualitative Methods in Marketing & Consumer Research MARK 3220 Innovation in Emerging Markets: This is a course about the innovation capabilities of different developing countries, mainly about BRICS. There are multiple guest speakers with different expertise and knowledge as there are usually writing academic papers on the topic of interest. Apart from BRICS, there is an optional presentation for innovation development of non-brics countries. This is an intense course with lots of readings. You are required and supposed to read all the readings

6 before sitting for the examination. The examination format of this course is also well-known for being one of the most intense - write a 15-page individual essay within 72 hours and the essay topic in fact require you to do massive research within that 72 hours. Therefore, you need to utilize what you learnt from all the previous readings you read during the semester as well as doing massive research during that 72 hours. But it is undeniable that you will gain a lot after attending this course, which I regard as an intense yet fruitful learning experience. Neuromarketing: This is an interesting marketing course using the most advanced neuro-science technology in predicting consumer behavior and making sense of it. Since Denmark is one of the most advanced countries in this neuro research aspect and the professor herself is a expert with practical experience in this field, you could in fact gain a lot of insights in the latest approach adopted in marketing research. There is an optional case presentation after the guest speaker, who is a Danish entrepreneur, presented his difficulties in understanding consumers in order to expand his business. Concerning examination, you are required to write an essay within 2 weeks and the oral presentation will be based on the essay and to a larger extent, the textbook and lectures. Retail marketing: This is a well-structured course that tightly ties the retail parameters with consumer behaviors. Similar to the previous courses introduced, the course also require students to read the readings. The good point about this course is its high relevance to real life cases. It often blends different brands and companies in the discussion and demonstrates how the theories in readings are related to the real life scenario. During the term, you are required to choose a industry or company of interest and complete a case write up on it, using any theories or models taught in the lectures. Oral presentation will primarily focus on your report and follow-up questions will be asked. Being able to answer those follow-up questions by demonstrating critical thinking will raise your grade. Qualitative Methods in Marketing & Consumer Research: This is a course with a heavy focus on theories related to marketing and consumer research. Unlike the previous course introduced, it is less related to real life cases and less practical. However, they also cover some relatively new topics in consumer research such as multi-sensory sculpturing. You are only required to write a report and there is no oral examination. TEACHING & ASSESSMENT METHODS Readings are essential in CBS as the lectures and examinations are to a large extent based on the assigned readings. Class discussion atmosphere is much more heavier than that in HKUST. Therefore, completing all the readings before class can enable you to contribute actively

7 during the class and hence gain more insight. There are a couple assessment methods. There are no midterms but just final examinations. The final examinations could take various formats, ranging from sit-in exam, written home assignment, 72-hour exam and oral exam. Written home assignment usually give sufficient time for you to complete the paper without too much stress when compared to 72-hour exam, but it is usually followed by a short oral examination. SPORTS & RECREATION FACILITIES As there are no gym facilities in CBS, you will need to probably join some fitness club by your own. But if you are interested in cycling, Copenhagen would be a perfect place. Most of the people bike there and therefore, you could buy a bike and you could travel to campus conveniently since the bicycle routes are nicely planned by the government. Buying a second hand bike would be a good choice as you may not want to bike during the cold and freezing winter months with rains and strong gust of wind. Renting a bike is perhaps slightly cheaper but you risk the chance of paying the compensation if the bike is being stolen. Note that Copenhagen most frequent crime is stealing bike. I bought a second hand bike at DKK 800 and sold it at DKK 1000 since I sold it relatively early when demand was still high and winter not yet approached. COST/EXPENSES ITEMS EXPENSE (HKD) ROUND TRIP FLIGHT TICKET ~10,000 VISA APPLICATION ~4,700 ACCOMMODATION ~33,600 EXPENSE IN COPENHAGEN ~10,000 TRAVELLING EXPENSE (10 COUNTRIES) ~50,000 SOCIAL CLUBS & NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES CBS holds multiple career fairs during the semester and you could go to those career fairs to know more about Danish companies. It is always interesting to explore the differences in culture in terms of career aspect. HEALTH & SAFETY When you arrive Copenhagen, you will got a CPR number which are essential during your stay in Copenhagen, Make sure you receive the yellow card with your assigned general practitioner (i.e doctor). You could contact them when you need any simple doctor consultation. But probably you will need to wake up early to call he or she during 8 to 9 am as this is the time when you can probably contact them and to make an appointment. Expect a couple days before you could successfully make an appointment. When you got more serious

8 illness or got hurt by accident, you could directly go to the hospital. The treatment and doctor consultation is free of charge, however, you need to purchase the medicines by yourself as doctors will not issue you with any medicine. FOOD Going to a restaurant and dining out in Copenhagen could be expensive. Therefore, cooking the meal by yourself could be a good way to save some money for your travelling. Buying grocery and food would be extremely convenient, especially if you live in Svanevej as there are a couple large supermarkets around. But of course, you can definitely try Noma, a world-famous Michelin star restaurant. But advance reservation is needed, a least a couple months. You could also try out Manfreds, which is opened by a former chief of Noma. TRANSPORTATION Metro and S-tog are what you needed to travel around Copenhagen if you do not have a bike. Buy monthly pass will be the most economic and convenient way of going around without a bike. But before you could got it, you need your CPR number. Buying monthly pass will cost you DKK 350 per month, but it is relatively cheaper than other means. CLIMATE Copenhagen has a comfortable and nice weather from September to November and that will be one of the best time to travel around Copenhagen. Starting from December, the daylight period gets shorter and the sky becomes completely dark at 3pm. COMMUNICATION CBS got a pretty nice buddy program and getting connected with your buddy would be a good way to experience Danish life, especially party and know more about Danish culture. The buddy will offer to pick you up at the airport and therefore, it is better for you to contact them earlier so as to facilitate the arrangement. # Part III - Checklist Laptop, Adaptor Passport & visa documents Medicine Formal Suit Power Strip Warm clothing Backpack for travelling Water-proof shoes for snowing

9 A final important point to note: flying from Hong Kong to Copenhagen through transferring flight in an European country could be complicated due to additional visa requirement. Hope you will enjoy your exchange with CBS!