Having first come to England in 2009, Rajibul has a wealth of experience to share with incoming international students. As such, he plays a very active role as a CampusConnect Ambassador, assisting those who are about to embark on a similar journey. We spoke to him about coping with online learning and the advice he has for students coming to the UK.

By Lauren Valentine

• Name: Rajibul

• Home country: Bangladesh

• University: Anglia Ruskin University

• Studying: MSc Accounting and Finance

• Fun fact: Rajibul did so well in his Accounting A level that his college hired him to teach other students!

Self-teaching and a shift to online study…

 What motivated you to pursue your course?

“I’d actually taught myself Accounting, with the help of a very knowledgeable friend, before teaching it for a year and a half. I felt incomplete and wanted to study more! I was undertaking an ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) qualification and a friend recommended I get a degree in Accounting. Therefore, I’ll have an academic degree and will be able to pursue the professional qualification whilst I’m working.”

You were in your final year of your BSc when the pandemic hit. What was that like?

“Naturally, I’d been following the news and keeping an eye on business matters. As an accounting student, you tend to keep an eye on China and the big influencers. When I first heard about Wuhan, I was sceptical. Next thing we were all in lockdown! Nobody expected this level of disruption and it was a shock for all of us. Even though I was a final-year student, I felt like I didn’t know where to start and just couldn’t focus.”

How have you adapted to learning in this way? Do you have any advice?

“A lot of it is about just getting used to it. I’ve seen the revolution of technology, but I’m used to paper books and human interaction rather than learning online. I have to gather the same amount of motivation as I would do in a face-to-face setting: wake up early and take notes throughout. Think of the advantages too: it cuts out the commute! Thankfully, the uni has managed to keep one day per week of in-person classes.”

Guiding other students and preparing for placements…

What do you gain from helping prospective students?

“I’ve lived and studied in the UK for a long time now, to the point where I feel more comfortable with this education system than the one in Bangladesh, so I have a lot of the answers to international students’ questions. I enjoy helping them to get accustomed to the culture, the language and the way of life. It’s a real chance for me to make someone feel comfortable and know they’re not facing a big change alone.”

And from the opposite angle, what are the advantages for incoming students?

“There are many! Firstly, they have somebody to support them with the small questions that pop into their heads and they’re otherwise unsure of who to ask. Of course, the International Office is great at providing official information, but we can give a different perspective because we’ve been through it ourselves and can pre-empt their questions. Also, most of them won’t have English as a first language. The more you talk to people and exercise the language, the easier it gets. They get to build their confidence in English, even if it’s just written.”

Are there any key messages you try to pass on to incoming students?

“I just try to answer as many questions as possible and raise awareness of where they can find information. Yesterday, for example, I was talking to somebody about accommodation. They don’t know anybody here, so they’re completely reliant on us for a student perspective. Lots of students I speak to will be doing placements, so I try to educate them on the job market in the UK. I’m honest about the competition and the need to search early on, but also encourage them to get help from the uni careers site.”

Given his experience so far as an Ambassador, Rajibul has the following advice for prospective students: “Ask questions! It doesn’t matter what about, whether it’s uni, culture, language…” He emphasises the importance of understanding the changes they will face: “If you don’t ask, you won’t have a good idea of what it’s really like. It’s greater to gain a broader picture.”

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhshumon/