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Go international: How studying abroad can change your life | Alexander Au | TEDxHumboldtMexicoCity


my name is Alex and I would like to

my name is Alex and I would like to share some of my experiences with you

share some of my experiences with you

share some of my experiences with you some information and what you’ve learned

some information and what you’ve learned

some information and what you’ve learned about my my curriculum I mean a lot of

about my my curriculum I mean a lot of

about my my curriculum I mean a lot of you know numbers dates places where I’ve

you know numbers dates places where I’ve

you know numbers dates places where I’ve been working but I think the most

been working but I think the most

been working but I think the most important thing is what’s behind it

important thing is what’s behind it

important thing is what’s behind it what does it do to you and so I would

what does it do to you and so I would

what does it do to you and so I would like to talk about higher education and

like to talk about higher education and

like to talk about higher education and about what higher education can do to

about what higher education can do to

about what higher education can do to you how you can participate and how it

you how you can participate and how it

you how you can participate and how it opens the door maybe to a different

opens the door maybe to a different

opens the door maybe to a different future now if you usually talk about

future now if you usually talk about

future now if you usually talk about higher education about learning as you

higher education about learning as you

higher education about learning as you can see on the slide we think about

can see on the slide we think about

can see on the slide we think about university degree and what a university

university degree and what a university

university degree and what a university degree can do to you now for the most

degree can do to you now for the most

degree can do to you now for the most part people still go to university

part people still go to university

part people still go to university because they want to have a better life

because they want to have a better life

because they want to have a better life with the university degree they can

with the university degree they can

with the university degree they can belong to a middle class upper class or

belong to a middle class upper class or

belong to a middle class upper class or elite and they can have economic

elite and they can have economic

elite and they can have economic stability but I think we have to add

stability but I think we have to add

stability but I think we have to add more value to higher education itself

more value to higher education itself

more value to higher education itself let me quote something that Barack Obama

let me quote something that Barack Obama

let me quote something that Barack Obama said one of the u.s. presidents that

said one of the u.s. presidents that

said one of the u.s. presidents that actually took a lot of support for

actually took a lot of support for

actually took a lot of support for higher education and he said in 2009 and

higher education and he said in 2009 and

higher education and he said in 2009 and this Couric characterizes really his

this Couric characterizes really his

this Couric characterizes really his like whole presidency in a speech to the

like whole presidency in a speech to the

like whole presidency in a speech to the National Academy of Science he said

National Academy of Science he said

National Academy of Science he said there are those people who say we cannot

there are those people who say we cannot

there are those people who say we cannot afford to invent in science and higher

afford to invent in science and higher

afford to invent in science and higher education

education

education that people support for research is

that people support for research is

that people support for research is somehow luxury I Barack Obama said

somehow luxury I Barack Obama said

somehow luxury I Barack Obama said completely disagree science and higher

completely disagree science and higher

completely disagree science and higher education is more essential for our

education is more essential for our

education is more essential for our prosperity our security our health our

prosperity our security our health our

prosperity our security our health our environment in our quality of life than

environment in our quality of life than

environment in our quality of life than it has ever been and I think if we look

it has ever been and I think if we look

it has ever been and I think if we look at higher education we have to go back a

at higher education we have to go back a

at higher education we have to go back a little bit not to the middle age but

little bit not to the middle age but

little bit not to the middle age but look what we have to do is really see

look what we have to do is really see

look what we have to do is really see that higher education helps us to

that higher education helps us to

that higher education helps us to understand the world the world is

understand the world the world is

understand the world the world is becoming anytime more complex I don’t

becoming anytime more complex I don’t

becoming anytime more complex I don’t know how you feel but if I watch the

know how you feel but if I watch the

know how you feel but if I watch the news if I read the newspapers it seems

news if I read the newspapers it seems

news if I read the newspapers it seems it has become really difficult to

it has become really difficult to

it has become really difficult to understand who are the bad guys who are

understand who are the bad guys who are

understand who are the bad guys who are the good guys because you have to see

the good guys because you have to see

the good guys because you have to see the political background everything is

the political background everything is

the political background everything is connected and it’s really difficult and

connected and it’s really difficult and

connected and it’s really difficult and I think higher education should make us

I think higher education should make us

I think higher education should make us to people that can really church complex

to people that can really church complex

to people that can really church complex relations that make ourselves Express

relations that make ourselves Express

relations that make ourselves Express and also that contribute to democracy

and also that contribute to democracy

and also that contribute to democracy and so on you know higher education has

and so on you know higher education has

and so on you know higher education has to fulfill the demands of a market and

to fulfill the demands of a market and

to fulfill the demands of a market and let me tell you this in Germany and this

let me tell you this in Germany and this

let me tell you this in Germany and this is not just in Germany in 2000 this is

is not just in Germany in 2000 this is

is not just in Germany in 2000 this is 17 years ago with the universities

17 years ago with the universities

17 years ago with the universities offered 300 university degrees 300

offered 300 university degrees 300

offered 300 university degrees 300 different degrees

different degrees

different degrees now it’s 17,000 17,000 so the university

now it’s 17,000 17,000 so the university

now it’s 17,000 17,000 so the university has to react to a highly specific market

has to react to a highly specific market

has to react to a highly specific market now we have systematic automatic

now we have systematic automatic

now we have systematic automatic engineering we have robotics and

engineering we have robotics and

engineering we have robotics and mechatronics applied science what is

mechatronics applied science what is

mechatronics applied science what is that nobody understands but this is what

that nobody understands but this is what

that nobody understands but this is what is right and so through higher education

is right and so through higher education

is right and so through higher education you can really fit in the society and I

you can really fit in the society and I

you can really fit in the society and I think you can contribute to make it

think you can contribute to make it

think you can contribute to make it better but that’s higher education in

better but that’s higher education in

better but that’s higher education in general I would like to add something if

general I would like to add something if

general I would like to add something if you have a strawberry cake you can

you have a strawberry cake you can

you have a strawberry cake you can always add to whip

always add to whip

always add to whip cream to it and that makes it really

cream to it and that makes it really

cream to it and that makes it really good and so I think we have to add

good and so I think we have to add

good and so I think we have to add studying abroad you know some

studying abroad you know some

studying abroad you know some experiences that you can get when you

experiences that you can get when you

experiences that you can get when you study abroad and again the original idea

study abroad and again the original idea

study abroad and again the original idea of going abroad was I would like to

of going abroad was I would like to

of going abroad was I would like to learn another language because I need to

learn another language because I need to

learn another language because I need to speak a foreign language I need to do

speak a foreign language I need to do

speak a foreign language I need to do some studies abroad that are being

some studies abroad that are being

some studies abroad that are being recognized at home to make my curriculum

recognized at home to make my curriculum

recognized at home to make my curriculum a little bit better but I think there’s

a little bit better but I think there’s

a little bit better but I think there’s a lot more to it if I ask the question

a lot more to it if I ask the question

a lot more to it if I ask the question is studying abroad really beneficial you

is studying abroad really beneficial you

is studying abroad really beneficial you might know the question yes it is why

might know the question yes it is why

might know the question yes it is why because there’s so many different

because there’s so many different

because there’s so many different aspects to it there’s of course a

aspects to it there’s of course a

aspects to it there’s of course a cultural aspect

cultural aspect

cultural aspect I mean you are exposed in a different

I mean you are exposed in a different

I mean you are exposed in a different country to completely different culture

country to completely different culture

country to completely different culture and for me as a German and I speak here

and for me as a German and I speak here

and for me as a German and I speak here really as a German like the Spanish

really as a German like the Spanish

really as a German like the Spanish culture and the Mexican culture is like

culture and the Mexican culture is like

culture and the Mexican culture is like hey that’s that’s the same right but

hey that’s that’s the same right but

hey that’s that’s the same right but then you know as Mexicans if you go to

then you know as Mexicans if you go to

then you know as Mexicans if you go to Spain oops that’s a little bit different

Spain oops that’s a little bit different

Spain oops that’s a little bit different right so that’s a different culture why

right so that’s a different culture why

right so that’s a different culture why do they talk this way and so I think we

do they talk this way and so I think we

do they talk this way and so I think we need to experience that cultural clash

need to experience that cultural clash

need to experience that cultural clash 24 hours for several weeks for several

24 hours for several weeks for several

24 hours for several weeks for several months and that’s what a high school

months and that’s what a high school

months and that’s what a high school student really makes an international

student really makes an international

student really makes an international high school student and then there’s the

high school student and then there’s the

high school student and then there’s the environmental benefit I can tell you

environmental benefit I can tell you

environmental benefit I can tell you when I was trying to open a bank account

when I was trying to open a bank account

when I was trying to open a bank account in Mexico I thought this is easy you go

in Mexico I thought this is easy you go

in Mexico I thought this is easy you go to the bank you come back here’s your

to the bank you come back here’s your

to the bank you come back here’s your card here’s the bank account you know

card here’s the bank account you know

card here’s the bank account you know what that’s a whole adventure I mean I

what that’s a whole adventure I mean I

what that’s a whole adventure I mean I decided when I retire one day I still

decided when I retire one day I still

decided when I retire one day I still have some years to go but when I retired

have some years to go but when I retired

have some years to go but when I retired today one day I will write a book and I

today one day I will write a book and I

today one day I will write a book and I will write this book when I retire

will write this book when I retire

will write this book when I retire because it’s gonna have a hundred pages

because it’s gonna have a hundred pages

because it’s gonna have a hundred pages about opening a bank account in Mexico

about opening a bank account in Mexico

about opening a bank account in Mexico okay so but these little things that you

okay so but these little things that you

okay so but these little things that you experience a very important because

experience a very important because

experience a very important because that make you more complete your

that make you more complete your

that make you more complete your experience more complete not your

experience more complete not your

experience more complete not your academic knowledge but your human

academic knowledge but your human

academic knowledge but your human experience and this is really important

experience and this is really important

experience and this is really important you think we Germans and we are a very

you think we Germans and we are a very

you think we Germans and we are a very organized but if you have the experience

organized but if you have the experience

organized but if you have the experience to go to Germany to bus stop okay

to go to Germany to bus stop okay

to go to Germany to bus stop okay and you want to enter the bus you’re

and you want to enter the bus you’re

and you want to enter the bus you’re gonna miss this very organized lines

gonna miss this very organized lines

gonna miss this very organized lines that you have in Mexico in Germans like

that you have in Mexico in Germans like

that you have in Mexico in Germans like boom one crowd at the same time doesn’t

boom one crowd at the same time doesn’t

boom one crowd at the same time doesn’t fit to the culture but hey it’s ours and

fit to the culture but hey it’s ours and

fit to the culture but hey it’s ours and so these are things you just have to

so these are things you just have to

so these are things you just have to experience and then there’s of course

experience and then there’s of course

experience and then there’s of course the academic experience which is also

the academic experience which is also

the academic experience which is also very different in Germany you have to be

very different in Germany you have to be

very different in Germany you have to be self responsible you have to be

self responsible you have to be

self responsible you have to be automatic automat evaded because why

automatic automat evaded because why

automatic automat evaded because why because you’re not obligated to go to

because you’re not obligated to go to

because you’re not obligated to go to class you’re not you don’t have a lot of

class you’re not you don’t have a lot of

class you’re not you don’t have a lot of homework you can do it or you can live

homework you can do it or you can live

homework you can do it or you can live it okay so most foreign students who

it okay so most foreign students who

it okay so most foreign students who come back from Germany but I’m not

come back from Germany but I’m not

come back from Germany but I’m not speaking here only about Germany okay

speaking here only about Germany okay

speaking here only about Germany okay because abroad experience is important

because abroad experience is important

because abroad experience is important wherever you go but when they come back

wherever you go but when they come back

wherever you go but when they come back to their own country their usual usually

to their own country their usual usually

to their own country their usual usually more self motivated self initiative and

more self motivated self initiative and

more self motivated self initiative and you learn how to talk to other people in

you learn how to talk to other people in

you learn how to talk to other people in a different language and you learn how

a different language and you learn how

a different language and you learn how to solve problems and you learn what one

to solve problems and you learn what one

to solve problems and you learn what one of the speakers before said to see the

of the speakers before said to see the

of the speakers before said to see the world through different eyes let me give

world through different eyes let me give

world through different eyes let me give an example in MBA studies Korea this is

an example in MBA studies Korea this is

an example in MBA studies Korea this is three years ago they’ve made a little

three years ago they’ve made a little

three years ago they’ve made a little experiment so they just separated a

experiment so they just separated a

experiment so they just separated a group of five French students and five

group of five French students and five

group of five French students and five German students okay

German students okay

German students okay now you think friends France Germany

now you think friends France Germany

now you think friends France Germany their neighbors Western Europe you know

their neighbors Western Europe you know

their neighbors Western Europe you know they share the same border not going to

they share the same border not going to

they share the same border not going to be difficult it’s going to be most the

be difficult it’s going to be most the

be difficult it’s going to be most the same they said look here’s the task each

same they said look here’s the task each

same they said look here’s the task each group of you gets 500 little white sugar

group of you gets 500 little white sugar

group of you gets 500 little white sugar cubes the ones you have in Germany and

cubes the ones you have in Germany and

cubes the ones you have in Germany and then you have ten minutes time to build

then you have ten minutes time to build

then you have ten minutes time to build a tower and whoever you know constructs

a tower and whoever you know constructs

a tower and whoever you know constructs the higher tower wins so what happened

the higher tower wins so what happened

the higher tower wins so what happened the French guys started to work

the French guys started to work

the French guys started to work immediately on the tower and they

immediately on the tower and they

immediately on the tower and they elected one leader and the group breed

elected one leader and the group breed

elected one leader and the group breed group leader did not participate in a

group leader did not participate in a

group leader did not participate in a construction process he just said you do

construction process he just said you do

construction process he just said you do this this this justice this is what

this this this justice this is what

this this this justice this is what happened on the French side

happened on the French side

happened on the French side can you imagine would happen on the

can you imagine would happen on the

can you imagine would happen on the German side they made a plan so for the

German side they made a plan so for the

German side they made a plan so for the first three minutes piece of paper and

first three minutes piece of paper and

first three minutes piece of paper and drawing and you know how do we construct

drawing and you know how do we construct

drawing and you know how do we construct this tower and in a very democratic way

this tower and in a very democratic way

this tower and in a very democratic way everybody participating okay and then at

everybody participating okay and then at

everybody participating okay and then at the end well it’s I know it’s it’s sad

the end well it’s I know it’s it’s sad

the end well it’s I know it’s it’s sad to say about the French one and but what

to say about the French one and but what

to say about the French one and but what does it say it says you know we

does it say it says you know we

does it say it says you know we neighbors but we act very differently in

neighbors but we act very differently in

neighbors but we act very differently in very different manners and so if you

very different manners and so if you

very different manners and so if you don’t understand that you can also be

don’t understand that you can also be

don’t understand that you can also be successful how like and working like the

successful how like and working like the

successful how like and working like the other group does and if you don’t learn

other group does and if you don’t learn

other group does and if you don’t learn how to de-escalate through communication

how to de-escalate through communication

how to de-escalate through communication things go pretty wrong and talking about

things go pretty wrong and talking about

things go pretty wrong and talking about wrong let me give you one more example

wrong let me give you one more example

wrong let me give you one more example si P that’s a huge software company like

si P that’s a huge software company like

si P that’s a huge software company like Oracle they do it like software for big

Oracle they do it like software for big

Oracle they do it like software for big companies they had a project in India

companies they had a project in India

companies they had a project in India and this is published Internet that’s

and this is published Internet that’s

and this is published Internet that’s why I can tell you and it’s a

why I can tell you and it’s a

why I can tell you and it’s a multi-billion dollar project and it

multi-billion dollar project and it

multi-billion dollar project and it imploded this project imploded after two

imploded this project imploded after two

imploded this project imploded after two years why why did it go so wrong

years why why did it go so wrong

years why why did it go so wrong cultural aspect now the German leaders

cultural aspect now the German leaders

cultural aspect now the German leaders asked the Indian employees all the time

asked the Indian employees all the time

asked the Indian employees all the time how does the project go and I said well

how does the project go and I said well

how does the project go and I said well it’s great wonderful and they were use

it’s great wonderful and they were use

it’s great wonderful and they were use to it that you know as we are that you

to it that you know as we are that you

to it that you know as we are that you can criticize you can really tell the

can criticize you can really tell the

can criticize you can really tell the truth how things go and now the Indian

truth how things go and now the Indian

truth how things go and now the Indian employees they felt we can’t tell them

employees they felt we can’t tell them

employees they felt we can’t tell them that things are going so wrong until a

that things are going so wrong until a

that things are going so wrong until a point where it really exploded right and

point where it really exploded right and

point where it really exploded right and so this is really cultural communication

so this is really cultural communication

so this is really cultural communication or not communication and I know from my

or not communication and I know from my

or not communication and I know from my position when we do a project and you

position when we do a project and you

position when we do a project and you know my counterparts tell me you know

know my counterparts tell me you know

know my counterparts tell me you know we’re not you know we’re not in time but

we’re not you know we’re not in time but

we’re not you know we’re not in time but don’t

don’t

don’t very not the no te preocupes for me it

very not the no te preocupes for me it

very not the no te preocupes for me it means yes I have to really start

means yes I have to really start

means yes I have to really start worrying about this right so so these

worrying about this right so so these

worrying about this right so so these are the values you really get when you

are the values you really get when you

are the values you really get when you work in a very study in a very different

work in a very study in a very different

work in a very study in a very different environment and it’s really the elements

environment and it’s really the elements

environment and it’s really the elements of being of the culture of the

of being of the culture of the

of being of the culture of the environment of the academic system of

environment of the academic system of

environment of the academic system of the language when you feel like a

the language when you feel like a

the language when you feel like a compressed mass I can express myself but

compressed mass I can express myself but

compressed mass I can express myself but like a child this is really difficult

like a child this is really difficult

like a child this is really difficult and it really completes you as a person

and it really completes you as a person

and it really completes you as a person now what does that do to you as a person

now what does that do to you as a person

now what does that do to you as a person to your professional profile it as I

to your professional profile it as I

to your professional profile it as I said makes it more complete and then you

said makes it more complete and then you

said makes it more complete and then you might have you might want to go back to

might have you might want to go back to

might have you might want to go back to your country and look for your place in

your country and look for your place in

your country and look for your place in the future now where is your place in

the future now where is your place in

the future now where is your place in the future you know where it is I don’t

the future you know where it is I don’t

the future you know where it is I don’t know I have no idea what your place in

know I have no idea what your place in

know I have no idea what your place in the future could be with these ability

the future could be with these ability

the future could be with these ability but what I know is that it really

but what I know is that it really

but what I know is that it really improves your profile and your chances

improves your profile and your chances

improves your profile and your chances in life to keep the door open and to

in life to keep the door open and to

in life to keep the door open and to enter maybe a company and let me read

enter maybe a company and let me read

enter maybe a company and let me read you from the OECD from the Organisation

you from the OECD from the Organisation

you from the OECD from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development

for Economic Cooperation and Development

for Economic Cooperation and Development they defined in 2009 some qualities they

they defined in 2009 some qualities they

they defined in 2009 some qualities they said that they will highly improve the

said that they will highly improve the

said that they will highly improve the employability of university graduates

employability of university graduates

employability of university graduates and they said this in 2009 and it’s

and they said this in 2009 and it’s

and they said this in 2009 and it’s still in their yearly book okay and this

still in their yearly book okay and this

still in their yearly book okay and this is development the quality of

is development the quality of

is development the quality of development of transferable skills to

development of transferable skills to

development of transferable skills to use your skills in the different

use your skills in the different

use your skills in the different environments critical thinking which I

environments critical thinking which I

environments critical thinking which I said before which higher education

said before which higher education

said before which higher education should give us we should really

should give us we should really

should give us we should really understand that we are critical thinkers

understand that we are critical thinkers

understand that we are critical thinkers that makes us understand the world and

that makes us understand the world and

that makes us understand the world and also different companies the way we work

also different companies the way we work

also different companies the way we work communication and international teamwork

communication and international teamwork

communication and international teamwork which you learn especially

which you learn especially

which you learn especially you abroad M mastering a second language

you abroad M mastering a second language

you abroad M mastering a second language and systemic thinking in different

and systemic thinking in different

and systemic thinking in different cultural fields so if you look back to

cultural fields so if you look back to

cultural fields so if you look back to what I’ve said what you consciously

what I’ve said what you consciously

what I’ve said what you consciously learn or unconsciously learn while you

learn or unconsciously learn while you

learn or unconsciously learn while you are in a very international setting then

are in a very international setting then

are in a very international setting then you probably agree that these qualities

you probably agree that these qualities

you probably agree that these qualities are probably a part of you now okay and

are probably a part of you now okay and

are probably a part of you now okay and so this is the fact that you might want

so this is the fact that you might want

so this is the fact that you might want to easier find your place in the future

to easier find your place in the future

to easier find your place in the future with a big company and if people say

with a big company and if people say

with a big company and if people say what we all know that there are certain

what we all know that there are certain

what we all know that there are certain political tendencies right now I would

political tendencies right now I would

political tendencies right now I would say to tell people they’re very easy

say to tell people they’re very easy

say to tell people they’re very easy solutions for very complex fields or

solutions for very complex fields or

solutions for very complex fields or even one country can go a solo way while

even one country can go a solo way while

even one country can go a solo way while leaving all the other countries apart

leaving all the other countries apart

leaving all the other countries apart I think deep in our heart we all know

I think deep in our heart we all know

I think deep in our heart we all know this is not true the world works very

this is not true the world works very

this is not true the world works very differently everything is interconnected

differently everything is interconnected

differently everything is interconnected internationally so bound together with a

internationally so bound together with a

internationally so bound together with a web that you really have to see

web that you really have to see

web that you really have to see everything in context and so to conclude

everything in context and so to conclude

everything in context and so to conclude this you know being exposed to other

this you know being exposed to other

this you know being exposed to other cultures doing your height like your

cultures doing your height like your

cultures doing your height like your university education in a different

university education in a different

university education in a different country does not necessarily change you

country does not necessarily change you

country does not necessarily change you completely as a person but it adds up

completely as a person but it adds up

completely as a person but it adds up some qualities to you that you might

some qualities to you that you might

some qualities to you that you might want to be able to use later on and now

want to be able to use later on and now

want to be able to use later on and now the important thing is you might want to

the important thing is you might want to

the important thing is you might want to use them because they give you better

use them because they give you better

use them because they give you better access to a brighter future with

access to a brighter future with

access to a brighter future with different companies that’s one thing but

different companies that’s one thing but

different companies that’s one thing but the other thing and that’s at least as

the other thing and that’s at least as

the other thing and that’s at least as important is it makes you not a better

important is it makes you not a better

important is it makes you not a better person but a person who rather accepts

person but a person who rather accepts

person but a person who rather accepts the opinion of other people who rather

the opinion of other people who rather

the opinion of other people who rather understands there are different ways to

understands there are different ways to

understands there are different ways to get to the same goal and to really

get to the same goal and to really

get to the same goal and to really through this can also could be a good

through this can also could be a good

through this can also could be a good example for other people and help them

example for other people and help them

example for other people and help them to explain a world that’s becoming

to explain a world that’s becoming

to explain a world that’s becoming everyday more complex and faster moving

everyday more complex and faster moving

everyday more complex and faster moving thank you

thank you

thank you [Applause]

”

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