EXCHANGEATIVEYBUSINESSSCHOOLUniversityofWesternOntario,Canada

TravelReport,2016

Student363268,AaltoUniversitySchoolofBusiness

TableofContents

INTRODUCTION...............................................................................................................................31.PREPARINGFORTHEEXCHANGE..........................................................................................31.1BEFORETHEEXCHANGE...................................................................................................................31.2ARRIVALTOHOSTUNIVERSITY.....................................................................................................4

2.EXCHANGESTUDIES..................................................................................................................42.1STUDYINGATIVEY...............................................................................................................................42.2MYCOURSES............................................................................................................................................6

3.EXPENSES......................................................................................................................................83.1SCHOOL-RELATEDEXPENSES.........................................................................................................83.2.ACCOMODATION..................................................................................................................................83.3.OTHEREXPENSES..............................................................................................................................10

4.FREETIME...................................................................................................................................104.1LOCALAREA,WEATHER..................................................................................................................114.2.TRAVELLINGDURINGEXCHANGE.............................................................................................11

FINALCOMMENTS.........................................................................................................................12

INTRODUCTION

IspentmyBachelor'sexchangesemesteratIveyBusinessSchoolofUniversityofWesternOntario,inLondon,CanadainSpring2016.IchosetheexchangedestinationbecauseIveywasawell-reputedbusinessschoolinCanadathatalsowasuniqueinusingapurecase-basedteachingmethod—theonlyotheruniversitybesidesHarvard.Canada,beinganEnglish-speakingnationoffriendlypeople,wasaneasychoiceasahostcountry.InthistravelreportIwriteaboutmyexperienceatIveyBusinessSchoolasanexchangestudent.

1.PREPARINGFORTHEEXCHANGE

1.1BEFORETHEEXCHANGE

IgotanacceptanceemailletterfromthehostuniversityinlateMay,providingmeinformationonthestepsIneededtotakebeforetheexchange.ThefirstthingIwassupposedtodowastofillapre-intakeforminJune,whereIuploadedagradereportandfilledsomebasicinformation,InlateJuly,IalreadyhadtochoosethecoursesIwantedtoattendatIvey.Youwerestillallowedtomakechangestocoursesduringthefirstweekofthesemester,butonlyiftherewereavailablespotsleft.Infall,Istartedlookingfortheaccommodation.IfoundaroomthroughapostingonaFacebookgroupforincomingIveyexchangestudentsandcontactedthelessor.InSeptemberIconfirmedIwouldtaketheplaceandinOctoberIpaidthefirstmonth'srentinadvance.VisaprocessforCanadawasquiteeasy,asFinnishcitizensarevisa-exemptforastayofuptosixmonths.TheonlythingrequiredwastotaketheIveyacceptanceletter,whichIhadgotteninemailinJune,withme.AsIwasgoingflythroughNewYork,IhadtofillanESTAapplicationonlineandpayasmallfeebeforethetrip.Ihadtopaythemandatoryfees,whicharethehealthinsurance,thebusspassandastudentcardtothehostuniversity,inDecemberbeforetheexchange.Ialsotookanadditionaltravelinsurance,asIwasgoingtotraveloutsideCanada.

1.2ARRIVALTOHOSTUNIVERSITY

ItravelledtothehostuniversitybyflyingtoTorontowithatransitinNewYorkandthentakingabustoLondon.IarrivedatmynewhomeinLondonintheeveningofSaturday,January2nd,afterspendingafewhoursexploringToronto.OnthenextdayIwenttobuygrocerieswithanewroommate,wenttoashoppingmalltobuybedlinenandarrangedmybelongingsinmyroom.TheschoolstartedonMonday,4thofJanuary,directlywithregularclasses.Afterclasses,wewenttogetaWesternstudentcard,alocalbusspassandnecessarycoursematerials,withtheotherFinnishstudentfromAalto.TheofficialorientationtookplaceonthenextdayonTuesday,whereweweregivensomepracticalinformationregardingstudiesaswellashadashortlectureonCanadianbusiness.TheofficialorientationcontinuedonFridaywithasessionduringalunchbreak.Apartfromtheorientationsessions,weattendedclassesnormallyduringthefirstweek.IntheorientationsessionswewerealsogiveninformationontheupcomingunofficialorientationeventsarrangedbytheexchangecoordinatorsofIveyfortheweekend.AdinnerwasorganizedforexchangestudentsinFridayafternoon,whichwasfollowedbytwonightsout.Theorientationweekendwasthefirstoccasionwherewegottoknowalltheotherexchangestudents,althoughsomeofushadalreadymetduringtheweek.

2.EXCHANGESTUDIES

2.1STUDYINGATIVEYThesemesteratIveyisquiteshort,lastingonlythreemonthsfromthebeginningofJanuaryuntiltheendofMarch.Thereisachangeofperiodinthemiddleofthesemester,withanexamweekandareadingweekholiday,wherecoursesof0.25creditsendandnewonebegin.With0.5creditcourses,youcontinuewiththemfromthebeginningtotheendofthesemester.The0.25creditsisequivalenttothreecreditsinAaltoand0.5isequivalentto6credits,duringyourexchangeatIveyyouhavetotakeatotalof2.5creditsworthofcourses.Ivey'sundergraduateprogramhasaslightlydifferentdegreestructure,whereastudentstudieshis/herfirsttwoyearsatanyfacultyinWestern,andthencompletestwoyearsatIvey.TheprogramiscalledtheHonorsBusinessAdministrationprogram(HBA).InthefirstyearofIvey(HBA1)thestudentsenrolinamandatorysetofcourses(comparabletothefirstyearinAaltoBiz)andtakeelectivecoursesinthesecondyear(HBA2)accordingtotheirpreferences.IveyexchangestudentsenrolinHBA2coursesand,excludingafewcourses,canchoosetotakeanyHBA2course.Thereforethereisawideselection

ofcoursesfromdifferentsubjectsthatyoucanchoosefromasanexchangestudentatIveybasedonyourinterests.WhatmakesIveyuniqueamongotherbusinessschoolsisthecompletecase-basedteachingmethod.Thismeansthatthereisaheavyemphasisonclassparticipation,andalargeportionofgradingisbasedonthat.Foreachclass,thereisacasetobereadbeforehand,andtheclassisessentiallyadiscussiononthatcase,wherestudentsexpresstheirthoughtsortheirviewofthesolutiononanissue.Studentssitinasemi-arcshapedformation,andspeakinturnsbyraisingahand.Theteachersdon'thavetoforcestudentstospeakastheIveystudentsactivelyandvoluntarilyseektospeakbecauseofthegradingsystem,andthereisalwaysagoodflowofdiscussion.

WhatisalsoworthamentionistheIveybuildingitself,asitisquiteremarkable.Completedin2013withacostofanastonishing110millionCAD,thebuildingfeelsmorelikeamodernartmuseumthanaschoolbuilding.

2.2MYCOURSESAsanaccountingmajorwithminorstudiesinfinance,IhaddecidedthatIwouldtakemanagerialandmarketingcoursesduringmyexchangeatIvey.Thereweremanyinterestingcourses,andIendeduptakingthefollowingcourses.

BuildingConsumerBrands(4495)Professor:RodDuclos20sessions(0.5credits)Thiswasacourseaboutbuildingandmanagingconsumerbrands.Inthecoursewelearnttheroleandimportanceofbrands,theconceptofbrandequity,theconceptofbrandpositioning,andthetypesofbrandelements.Groupworksweredonethroughoutthecourse,culminatedbyafinalgrouppresentation.Evaluation:Classcontribution-35%Quiz-10%Brandaudit(team-based)-55%

• 35%teamscore• 20%peerreview

Assomeonethatisinterestedinmarketing,Ienjoyedthiscourse.Whatmadethecourseespeciallyinterestingwasthededicatedprofessor.Itwasobviousthathehadcarefullyplannedthelectures,andhewasgoodatkeepingthestudentsengaged.Thecoursealsohadagoodbalanceoftheoryandpractice;wehadtounderstandthetheoreticalbaseofbrandmanagement,butwealsolookedintoandanalyzedcasesduringtheclasses.OperationsStrategy(4452)Professor:S.Vachon20sessions(0.5credits)Inthecourse,welookedatissuesrelatedtooperationsstrategywithcasestudies.Althoughsomeofthecasesincludedcalculations,thefocusofthecoursewasnotintheoryorformulas,andwasnotheavyinnumericalcalculations.Thefocuswastounderstandtheconceptofoperationsstrategyasopposedtooperationsmanagement.Evaluation:Classcontribution-50%Finalexam-50%Ifoundthecasesinthecourseveryinterestingandenjoyedtheclassdiscussions.Inthelastpartofthecoursewehadacoupleoftheorylectures,whichcoveredthesamecalculationslearntintheoperationsmanagementcourseofthefirst

yearofBachelor's.Nevertheless,Iquiteenjoyedthecoursebecauseoftheinterestingcases.GlobalStrategy(4480)Professor:StephenChen20sessions(0.5credits).Theobjectiveofthecoursewastolearnwhybusinessesexpandoverseas,thedifferentmethodsofentryintoforeignmarketsandhowforeignoperationsdifferfromdomesticones.Evaluation:Classparticipation(40%)Finalexam(30%)Groupprojectreport(30%)ThiswasthecourseIpersonallyenjoyedthemostbecauseofaninterestingtopiccoupledwithcasebasedteachingmethod,andagoodprofessor.Allofthelectureswerediscussionsonacase—whichwerealwaysinteresting—readbeforehand,withasummaryandconclusionmadebytheprofessorintheend.Theprofessor,althoughattimeshardtounderstandduetohisthick(Taiwanese)accent,hadaveryengaging,andhumoristic,styleofteachingthatIlikedalot.Hislongbackgroundinthecorporateworldshowedinthelecturesandhewasgoodatguidingthediscussionspurposefullyandconcludingthelectures.AdvancedCompetitiveStrategy(4597)Professor:BryanHong20sessions(0.5credits)Inthecoursewestudiedseveralsuccessfulcompaniesoperatinginvariousindustries,throughcases,andtriedtoanalyzewhatcompetitiveadvantagesledtotheirsuccess.Evaluation:Classcontribution(30%)Individualassignment(30%)Groupprojectwithapresentation(40%)IenjoyedthiscoursealmostasmuchasthecourseGlobalStrategy.Thecaseswereinterestingandwhatmadethecourseespeciallyenjoyablewastheprofessorwhowasveryskilfulatguidingthediscussions.Itwasalwaysinterestingtohearotherstudent'sthoughtsonaparticularcase.Ifyouarelookingtolearnasmuchaspossible,however,Iwouldn'tnecessarilyrecommendthiscourse,becauseasmuchasIenjoyedthecourse,IfeelIdidn'treallylearnanythingtangibleduringthecourse.

Thedarksideofcapitalism?Pirates,mavericks,andindustryrenewal(4579)Professor:JPVergne20sessions(0.5credits)Theobjectiveofthecoursewastolearnhowindustriesemergeandchange.Welookedintonewindustriesthatweredisruptivetoexistingmarketsorunconventional,suchasUFC,NapsterandUber.Evaluation:Classcontribution-30%Individualassignment1-15% Groupprojectandpresentation-35% Individualassignment2-20% Thecourseprovidedalotofnewinformationaboutnewtrends,suchasBitcoinand3Dprinting.Theprofessor,asisthecasewithallIveycourses,wasquitegoodandknowledgeableonthesubject.Asthegroupproject,wegottoproposeadevelopmentplantoanexistingcompany(astart-up)andpresentedittotheactualfoundersofthecompany.

3.EXPENSES

3.1SCHOOL-RELATEDEXPENSESBeforethestartoftheexchange,inDecember,IhadtopaysomemandatoryfeestoIvey,whichtotaled376,98CAD(274euros).Itcomprisedofahealthinsuranceplanforinternationalstudents(UniversityHealthInsurancePlan-UHIP)for204CAD,publictransportationbuspassfor145,98CADaswellasaWesternstudentcardfor27CAD.Ialsohadtopayforthematerials(casebooks)givenincoursesintheendofthesemester.Ipaid308CAD,buttheamountmayvarytosomedegreedependingonyourcourseselection.Inadditiontothiscoursematerialfee,youhavetopayforpossiblebooksusedinyourcourses.Ionlyhadtobuyonebook(60CAD),soinmostcoursesyouonlyusecasebooks.

3.2.ACCOMODATIONIchosetorentaroomfromalocalstudentthatwasgoingonanexchangehimself.Readingprevioustravelreportsandcomparingoptions,Ifiguredthatlivingoff-campusinprivatehousingwasthebetteroptionforme.Itwas

considerablycheaperandon-campushousingprovidedbytheuniversitywasmostlyforfirstyearstudents.Itturnedoutthatmostoftheexchangestudentshadalsooptedforoff-campushousing.IfoundtheroomonaFacebookpageforincomingexchangestudents,theIveyExchangeNetwork.Icontactedthepersonthatmadethepost,andafterafewemailsbackandforth,IconfirmedinSeptembertoberentingtheroom,andinOctoberIpaidthefirstmonth'srentinadvance.Therentwas500CAD(335euros),includingallexpenses.Thereisalsouniversity'sownlistingpageforoff-campushousing,offcampus.uwo.ca,whichhasalltheavailableoff-campusaccommodationlistedwithpictures.TheguysublettingtheroomwasanIveystudentdoingadualdegree.Therewerefourmaleroommates,oneofwhomstudiedatIveyandtherestinothercampusesofWestern.Allofthemwereintheirlastyears.TheplaceitselfwasadetachedhouseinSaunbyStreet,six-minutebusrideawayfromIveycampus.Asitwasalreadyinhabited,ithadallthenecessarykitchenwareandutensils.Myroomalsohadallthenecessaryfurniture—Ionlyneededtobuybedlinen.

Rentinganoff-campusroomfromalocaloutgoingexchangestudentturnedouttobeagreatchoice.Thehousewascozyanditwassituatedfairlyconvenientlyintermsofcommutingtocampus.Therewasasmallclusterofrestaurantslocatednearby,whichisalwaysaplus.Thebestthing,however,weretheCanadianroommates.Igotverywellalongwiththeroommatesandwespentquitealotoftimetogether,insidethehouseandalsoduringnightsout.Itwasalsonicetoknowlocalsthatkneweverything,andbuyinggrocerieswould'vebeenahasslewithoutroommateswhoownedacar.

3.3.OTHEREXPENSESIwouldsaythepricesforgeneralproductsandserviceswereslightlycheaperinLondonthaninFinland,becauseoftheveryfavourableexchangerateduringmyexchange(around1.5CADper1euro).Thisincludesthegroceriesinsupermarketsformostproducts,althoughsomeproducts,suchasmilkandcheeseweremoreexpensive.BeingusedtothestudentpriceforlunchhereinFinland,however,thelunchatcampusrestaurantwasexpensive.Apropermeal,withoutadrink,wouldcost7-8dollars;youwouldgetpizzaslicesorsaladforless.Anotherthingthatstuckoutwasthepriceformobilesubscriptionplans.Ipaid40dollarsforasubscriptionthatincluded1GBofdataandlimitedcalls,whichmakesmobilesubscriptionclearlymoreexpensivethaninFinland.It'simportanttonoticethatinCanadaisitconsideredobligatorytotiptheserverinrestaurantswitha15-20%tipofthetotalbill.Also,allpricesshownareexclusiveoftaxes,taxesareaddedatthecheckout.

4.FREETIMETheorientationweekendintheendofthefirstweekwasagoodopportunitytomeetalltheexchangestudentsforthefirsttime.ThenextthingorganizedbyIveyexchangecoordinatorswasa2-dayTorontotrip,roughlytwoweeksafterthestartofthesemester,forthecostof160dollarsincludingtransportationandaccommodation.ThetripwasagoodchancetoexploreTorontoandfurthergettoknowotherexchangestudents.AlthoughIhadspentaroundfivehoursinTorontoafterfirstarrivingtoCanada,IrealizedhowbigTorontoreallywasonlyduringthetrip.It'sworthtopointoutthatthereweren'tawholelotofeventsorganizedbytheexchangecoordinators.ItpalesincomparisontowhatAaltodoesforitsexchangestudents,forexample.Despitethis,Ifelttheorientationweekend,andalsotheTorontotrip,weresufficientinhelpingtheexchangestudentsgettoknoweachother.ThisispartlybecausetheIveyexchangegroupisfairlysmall—around35studentsinourgroup.Afterthefirstevents,itwaseasytoarrangehousepartiesandgotobarswiththeexchangestudents.AlthoughIdidhangoutwithagroupofexchangestudentsandwenttotripswiththem,IendedupspendingmoretimewithmyCanadianroommates,andIbecamegreatfriendswiththem.Myexperiencewouldn'thavebeenasgreatasitwaswithouttheroommates.ThereforeIstronglyrecommendstayingwithlocals,asyouwillalwayshavetheoptiontohangoutwithexchangestudentsnevertheless.BecauseofthesmallgroupofexchangestudentsatIvey,yourexperiencemightalsoconsiderablydependontheparticulargroupinyoursemester.

DespitethemandatoryattendanceatIvey,Ididhaveenoughfreetimeduringtheexchange.Ididhavetodospendsometimeduringtheweeksreadingcases—tobeabletobefollowthediscussionsinclasses—buthavingnoclassesonFridaysmeantplentyoffreetimeduringweekends.Andbecauseofthecase-basedteachingmethod,whereabigportionofgradingisbasedonyourclassparticipation,therearefewerexams;thereforetheworkloadismoreevenlydistributedthroughoutthesemester.It'sworthtopointoutthatIhadtakencoursesthatwerenotheavyinworkload.Thefinanceandaccountingcourseswouldhaverequiredconsiderablymorework.ThepartycultureatIveyandWesternUniversitygenerallycomprisesofhouseparties,whereonewouldpre-party,andgoingtobarsindowntownafterwards.Thelocalbarshaddrinkpromotionsforaparticularweekday,sowewouldusuallygotoacertainbaronacertainweekday.Forinstance,abarcalledJack'soffered"dollarbeers"onMondaysi.e.smallglassofbeerforonedollarplustaxes,whichwasquitepopularamongstudents.TherearealimitednumberofbarsinLondon(wherestudentsgoto),sothebarswouldusuallygetverypacked,especiallyduringastartofaperiod.

4.1LOCALAREA,WEATHERLondon,whereIveyalongwiththewholeWesternUniversityislocatedin,isacityof366000inhabitants.Despitethesize,itfeelsalotsmallerwhilestudyingatIvey.Partofthereasonisthatcampusareaislocatedoutsidethedowntownarea,andstudentslivenearthecampus.Westernstudentsdon'treallyspendtimeinthedowntownbesidesgoingtobarslocatedthere.Evenwhengoingtobars,youwouldmostlytakeacaboranUbertoandfromthere.Thedowntownjustdoesn'tfeellivelyenoughtospendtimeinatothertimes.Ifyouneedtodosomeshopping,youwouldgotoashoppingmallcalledCFMasonvillePlace—whichisadirectbuslinkawayfromthecampus—whereyougoteverythingyouneeded.ThewinterinLondonduringmyexchangehappenedtobeamildone,whiletherewasacolderwinterinFinland.ThereforeLondonwaslesscoldthanHelsinki,andIrememberonlyaweekofarealcoldweather(around-15Celsiusorcolder)duringtheexchange.TherealsowasmoredaylightandlongerperiodsofsunlightinLondoncomparedtoFinland.

4.2.TRAVELLINGDURINGEXCHANGEBecauseofthemandatoryattendanceinclasses,aswellaslongdistancesinCanada,IendedupnottravellingasmuchasIhadthoughtduringtheexchange.However,becauseoftheshortsemesterofthreemonthsatIvey,Ihadplentyoftimeaftertheendofthesemester.Inoneofthetrips,werentedacaranddrovetoChicago,whichisseven-hourdriveawayfromLondon,withafewexchangefriends.

Roughlyinthemiddleofthesemester,therewasaone-week"readingweek"holiday.Beforethereadingweek,therewasamid-termexamperiod,andifyoudidn'thaveexamsthen,youwouldhaveatwo-weekholiday,whichwasmycase.Thisholidayservedasagoodopportunitytotravelabitfurther—asdidalotoftheexchangestudents.WedecidedwithanotherexchangestudentthatitwouldbeagoodideatotraveltoCubabeforethepossiblediscontinuationoftheU.S.embargo,whileweweregeographicallyclose;sowedecidedtospendtheholidayinCuba.AsmostoftheflightstoCubafromCanadaaretoresortareas,whicharesoldasapartofaholidaypackage,therewerenoconvenientoptionsatthetimetoflytoCubafromCanada.ThereforeweflewtoHavanawithalayoverinMexicoCity,Mexico.Wetookalongerlayoveronthewayback,totakeanadvantageoftheopportunitytoalsoexploreMexicoCity.InCuba,wespentsomenightsinHavanaandtravelledtosomeoftheothersignificantcitiesorattractions,asopposedtostayinginaresortareaonly.ThiswasadecisionweweresatisfiedwithaswegottoexploretherealCuba,whichmadethetripquiteunforgettable.

FINALCOMMENTS

Needlesstosay,myexchangesemesteratIveyBusinessSchoolinCanadawasanunforgettableexperience.Igainedgreatmemoriesandexperiences,metgreatnewpeopleandlearnedhowit'sliketoliveinanewcountry.TheeducationalaspectofexchangeatIveywasanexperienceinitself,asIattendedthemostinterestinglecturesIhadeverattendedbefore.IbarelyevergotboredatIveylectures.IwarmlyrecommendIveyBusinessSchoolasanexchangedestination.