Short Term program: Masaryk University

What began as a spontaneous decision to study abroad resulted in a journey that reaffirmed my career ambitions and refined my leadership skills. It showed me  the importance of having a purpose. I now practice ethical leadership by placing human rights at the very forefront of my decision making, and use my experiences abroad to guide my social and global responsibility. 

I applied to study International Law and Human Rights at Masaryk University in Brno, Czech Republic because I wanted to experience studying in different country for a few weeks to refine broaden my intercultural understanding and global citizenship. 

At this time, I felt like I was losing the passion I once had for my degree. However, this quickly changed the moment I started studying at Masaryk University. The delivery of the International Law and Human Rights course made me feel like I had a purpose in my degree again. In fact, it reminded me of the purpose I lost a long time ago: human rights was exactly what I meant to do.

When I landed in Brno, I settled into a new culture and a new environments. In class, we engaged in discussions and participated in a mock trial exercise, which challenged my critical thinking skills. I was confronted with the harsh realities of the world around me and promised myself one thing - my leadership will always be grounded in strong values, ethics and commitment to protecting human rights. 

During weekends, we travelled to neighbouring countries to explore the cultures and education that these countries offered. Whilst Budapest, Prague and Vienna were all amazing in their own way, the most notable experience was our visit to the United Nations in Vienna. It was a reminder that human rights was something I always meant to do, and I had the ability to ask questions to the employees in the Vienna International Centre. I also got to proudly hold up the Malaysian flag - which is the country I was born in, and it was another reminder of how far I'd come in my studies. 

Throughout this program, I developed strong and sensitive communication skills by engaging with diverse students through mock trials and group projects. I also built critical self management skills by navigating an unfamiliar environment, and finding my purpose - building a career grounded in social and global responsibility.