Student Profiles
Jie Xu (Shirley)-China
Jie Xu (Shirley) enjoyed her time at UCLan as part of her English for International Business (EIB) course so much that she decided to stay here to study a Masters degree.
The 23 year-old from Zheijang in China spent a year at the Shanghai Institute of Foreign Trade before completing the final two years of the EIB degree in Preston.
And she found UCLan to have such a rich blend of cultures that she chose to study an MA in Intercultural Business Communication and a Teaching English as a Foreign Language Certificate.
"The UCLan franchise EIB degree program was attractive because I could spend some time in China and some time in England as well," she says. "And after I finished my BA program, I found UCLan was a real intercultural place for me to carry on my study."
Shirley spent a semester in America as part of her undergraduate degree, so she was used to adapting to new surroundings and meeting new people, which she enjoys doing.
Exciting
"This MA year is exciting because I spend most of the time with students of mixed cultures," she says. "I try to be active in my academic studies and I also spend a lot of time being involved in various activities on campus and in the local community.
"I've had part-time jobs providing family support at a Lancashire prison, as a teaching assistant at a local school and also as a barmaid."
And Shirley admits that her time in Preston would not have been the same if it were not for the support she has received from the staff at UCLan. "During the course of study there has been excellent academic support," she says. "And The 'i' is really useful, especially for us international students, on issues such as visas and other problems.
"Most of the essential information was introduced to me before I came to the UK and the liaison people were really helpful with registration and accommodation issues."
When she graduates in September, Shirley wants to work in a job that deals with international issues, and requires bilingual and bicultural skills, such as an ambassador or a cultural consultant.
