From Guest to Student – Why Gabriel Decided to Stay at the St. Pölten UAS

Gabriel Mermer started out as a student at the Warsaw University of Technology. It was an iLab project at the St. Pölten UAS that changed everything for him:

Our university of applied sciences and our range of study programmes appealed so much to him that he decided to put his studies in Poland on hold and enrol in the English-taught bachelor degree programme Creative Computing.

Creative Computing combines both creative and technological aspects to develop innovative solutions at the interface of humans and computers – from programming through UI and UX design to Virtual Reality.

International Experiences: A Must for Gabriel

International exchange is a matter close to Gabriel’s heart – how fortunate that his study programme at the St. Pölten UAS offers exactly that. From the diverse options on offer, he chose:

• Workshops (twice) in Belgium within the framework of the E³UDRES² alliance
• International Summer University in Fulda (Germany)
• Since February: a semester abroad at INHA University in South Korea

But this is not all – the St. Pölten UAS offers many more possibilities to gain international experiences:

• Joint Master programmes: International experience is an integral part of the curriculum of these programmes. You study at three higher education institutions in three different European countries. Learn more about Joint Master programmes.
• iLab: The international project semester that brought Gabriel to St. Pölten. Students from various countries work together on an interdisciplinary project over the course of one semester. Learn more about the iLab.
• Internships, study semesters abroad, or short-term mobilities: The St. Pölten UAS supports you on your individual path abroad, also through the numerous opportunities of our European University E³UDRES². Discover all options by reading our Guide to International Experiences.

Summer University: Intensive and Educational

The International Summer University in Fulda was Gabriel’s most intensive experience abroad so far. What made him decide on this four-week programme?

• “I wanted to experience new cultures, improve my German language skills, and develop my specialist competencies further.”

His expectations were certainly met – or rather, exceeded:

• “My German improved a lot. For someone like me who designs applications and interfaces for people, it was immensely valuable to be confronted with so many different perspectives. Learning to understanding how people from different cultures think and act helps me create user-centred designs for global audiences.”

Three Things that Gabriel Learned

1. Don’t take anything for granted – what’s normal for me might be totally unusual to another person.
2. Anything is possible with the right motivation – intensive lessons and learning a new language are challenging but feasible.
3. The world is incredibly diverse – encounters with people from all over the world have shown me how different ways of thinking and experiences can be.

   

   Gabriel Mermer studies – and travels the world at the same time. | Copyright: Gabriel Mermer

Next Stop: South Korea!

Gabriel’s next adventure takes him to Asia: a semester abroad at INHA University in Incheon, South Korea.

“I will spend the summer semester there – my first ever stay in Asia. I am very curious for the country, the people, and this new experience.”

Do you want to gain international experience, too? Discover the possibilities in our Guide to International Experiences!