Student Dennis Osah Jnr: "I can confidently say that my studies in Lithuania had an impact on my future goals"

“I always wanted to study International Business Management, so I went to the University website and searched for their available courses; I saw the course I wanted and immediately applied”, – states second-year Master’s student Dennis Osah Jnr from Nigeria. We invite you to learn more about the Vilnius university Kaunas Faculty student, his experience in Lithuania and what he thinks about studying.

Did you always know you wanted to study abroad? Why did you choose Lithuania?
Yes, it was always my dream to study abroad, as I saw it as an opportunity to learn more and experience other ways of being taught. A friend of mine told me about Lithuania, and I did my own research. I came to the conclusion that it would be a good destination for me due to three reasons: (i) affordable tuition fees, (ii) the course I wanted was available, (iii) I heard so many nice things about Lithuania and, so I became determined to come to study here.

Why did you choose Kaunas Faculty?
Actually, at first I thought my course would be taught in Vilnius, but I realised I would be studying at the Kaunas faculty and I must say I’m glad that I studied here, as I met really nice and friendly people.

How did you get involved in the community of Kaunas Faculty?
I got involved by attending the Vladas Gronskas International conference twice, once as a listener and as a participant. I learned a lot about different topics from technology to culture and entrepreneurship. The conference gave me the opportunity to network and learn new things. Also in our department, we received two lecturers from Istinye University, Turkey which I participated in the class activities with other students from different countries. Events were limited due to the covid-19 situation.

Did your studies in Lithuania have an impact on your future goals?
Yes, I can confidently say that my studies in Lithuania had an impact on my future goals as it gave me the opportunity to grow academically and a stepping stone to achieving greater things in future endeavors.

What advice would you give to other students?
I would advise other students to enjoy the experiences and create good positive memories with people of other nationalities. But most importantly, students should read and work hard so they can receive fantastic grades. Hint: never joke with assignments and presentations. I also advise students to listen and learn as much as possible from the lecturers who are all very knowledgeable and super friendly.

Was there anything unique about studying abroad?
Meeting and making friends with people from different countries and cultures was the most unique thing for me. I got to know more about the cultures and tried various foods from India, Bangladesh, Lithuania, etc. Now I can say that I can cook some Indian foods, which was not the case before.

What is the one benefit of studying abroad that is totally worth it?
The best benefit in my own perspective has to be interacting with people from different parts of the world. It builds your network, which can be beneficial in the future.

Where are you going next after graduating? Will you go back to your country?
I have some options on the table, I might go on to pursue my PhD here in Lithuania or will continue working here. When the time is right, I will make a decision that will take me to where I want to be in the foreseeable future.

Did you find any cool places in Lithuania that you weren’t expecting?
Yes, I found a lot of places that I didn’t think Kaunas had before coming here. I visited some nice parks in Panemunė and Kalniečiai. Also, a friend of mine from Šiauliai took me to a Nigerian restaurant here in Kaunas and we visited there for lunch and had some of our delicacies from Nigeria, which was nice as I didn’t expect there to be one here.

Are you looking for a job here? If you already have a job, is it related to your studies?
I’m currently working in HCL Technologies as an IT Service agent, it’s sort of related as HCL is a multinational company that provides IT solutions to its clients.

In your job, have you further developed any of the skills acquired during your studies?
Yes, I most definitely acquired new skills in communication, problem-solving and critical thinking, as well as efficient troubleshooting abilities, as these are needed to excel in work.

6 May 2022