‘I chose to do my MBA from Dubai for its dynamic business ecosystem’ | Life in a Foreign University

Choosing an undergraduate people successful absorption and exertion was not conscionable an world decision; it was a reflection of my lifelong passionateness for innovation and impact. Since childhood, I person been profoundly engaged successful problem-solving — whether it was designing a sustainability model, processing an app for the disabled, oregon founding my school’s tech-entrepreneurship club.

However, I besides realised that method expertise unsocial was not enough. Real interaction requires a strategical vision, an knowing of concern dynamics, and the quality to negociate teams and resources effectively. Through my vulnerability to planetary concern hubs similar New York and London, I saw firsthand however exertion and absorption intertwine to lick analyzable challenges. I wanted to larn however to span the spread betwixt innovation and execution and truthful decided to survey abroad.

The exertion travel and Dubai

Determined to find the close fit, I applied to respective universities crossed the satellite that offered akin programnes. My efforts paid disconnected arsenic I was accepted into astir 30 universities crossed 11 countries, 4 continents, and 27 cities, including 10 successful the US alone. In total, I received scholarships worthy implicit Rs 13 crore (excluding TETR College of Business). Among the apical universities that extended offers were the University of Hong Kong, wherever I received a afloat scholarship, and Utrecht University, which offered maine a partial scholarship.

Ultimately, I chose Dubai due to the fact that of its dynamic concern ecosystem, unparalleled networking opportunities, and a assemblage that aligned with my aspirations.

The infinitesimal I landed successful Dubai, I felt an exhilarating consciousness of adventure. Unlike many, I did not acquisition important civilization shock, acknowledgment to my anterior planetary exposure. In precocious school, I represented India successful a month-long programme successful Egypt, funded by British Petroleum and conducted by AFS with the University of Pennsylvania. Working alongside 30 planetary students had already prepared maine for divers planetary environments.

The archetypal fewer days successful Dubai were a whirlwind of experiences. I divided my clip betwixt 2 enactment locations, attending events and networking with a vibrant premix of investors, founders, students, and professionals from assorted industries. I rapidly recovered myself attending immoderate of the biggest expos and conferences, ArabLab, and GulfFood. I adjacent had the accidental to correspond a institution astatine GITEX (computer expo held annually successful Dubai) and instrumentality connected tiny gigs successful my escaped time.

Jeet Totla with his family

Despite the caller environment, Dubai felt harmless and welcoming. The consciousness of information was dissimilar anyplace other — I could permission my belongings unattended without interest oregon question astatine 4 americium to drawback the sunrise astatine Kite Beach without feeling unsafe. This city’s unsocial blend of ambition and comfortableness rapidly made it consciousness similar home.

University Life: A caller mode of learning

My acquisition astatine TETR College of Business was dissimilar thing I had experienced successful India. Having antecedently attended a accepted Indian engineering assemblage arsenic its archetypal planetary full-ride assistance recipient, I instantly noticed the stark contrast. Here, the assemblage medication was highly receptive to pupil feedback and acted upon it swiftly. For instance, erstwhile a prof wasn’t the close acceptable for our learning style, helium was replaced wrong 3 weeks with idiosyncratic who amended understood our needs.

Beyond the classroom, learning was profoundly immersive and practical. When we studied concern negotiation, we didn’t conscionable larn theories —we went to the Gold Souk to negociate golden prices firsthand. Instead of relying solely connected professors, we learned from manufacture professionals with real-world experience, making acquisition much applicable and dynamic.

The assemblage besides offered an unthinkable grade of flexibility. If I wanted a peculiar impermanent speaker, the medication made it happen. If I wanted to be an important conference, they figured retired a way. This adaptability and student-centric attack were refreshing compared to the rigid acquisition structures I was accustomed to.

A emblematic time was a blend of classes, workshops, networking, and self-driven projects. I would commencement my time astatine 7:30 americium with a thrust to campus, be lectures, and enactment successful workshops led by manufacture pioneers. Afternoons were often dedicated to idiosyncratic concern ventures, conferences, oregon exploring the city. Each time ended with a consciousness of accomplishment, reinforcing my content that learning isn’t confined to textbooks but extends to real-world experiences.

Jeet Totla with his classmates

Thanks to my assistance and the generous enactment from the TETR team, astir of my surviving expenses were covered. To negociate further costs, I took connected a relation arsenic a pupil acquisition intern with the university. In this position, I worked intimately with the caput of section and elder squad members to strategise pupil engagement initiatives, instrumentality feedback-driven improvements, and motorboat caller immersive programs. This relation allowed maine to lend meaningfully to the assemblage assemblage portion ensuring fiscal stability.

Personal maturation and changing perspectives

Studying overseas has been a transformative experience. Being exposed to antithetic cultures, concern practices, and perspectives has taught maine adaptability, resilience, and the value of stepping extracurricular my comfortableness zone. I person developed a planetary mindset, an quality to navigate divers environments, and a hands-on attack to tackling challenges.

Beyond academics, I’ve besides observed a displacement successful however radical astir maine comprehend me. Friends, family, and mentors backmost location are much intrigued by my journey. They spot maine evolving successful ways that animate curiosity and encouragement. This enactment fuels my thrust to maximize my experiences and stock my learnings with others.

Returning to India: Bringing planetary insights home

While my travel successful Dubai is conscionable beginning, I yet spot myself returning to India aft my degree. My experiences present person equipped maine with invaluable skills — adaptability, strategical thinking, and a planetary concern position — that I judge tin lend to India’s rapidly evolving economy. The hands-on problem-solving, dialog tactics, and enactment experiences I person gained volition beryllium invaluable successful navigating India’s divers and dynamic landscape.

I envision utilizing my planetary vulnerability to thrust innovation, foster entrepreneurship, and make scalable solutions that code real-world problems. With the skills and insights I’ve gained, I anticipation to marque a lasting interaction successful my location country.

(This letter is portion of a series by The Indian Express where we bring to you the experiences of students astatine antithetic overseas universities. From scholarships and loans to nutrient and taste experiences — students archer america however beingness is antithetic successful those countries and things they are learning different than academics)