A long journey brought Yaarshvinie Jayabalan to Athlone IT and her final year in accounting. Find out why this year abroad is her ‘swan song’ and discover more about BA Accounting at AIT…
After 7000 miles; 20 hours on a place and a 3 hour long layover in Dubai, I stepped out onto the land of Saints & Scholars, Ireland. Born and raised in a country with an average temperature of 28 degree, I felt Josh Brolin-ish, suffering severe frostbites in the movie Everest. Contradictory to the cold weather Irish people are warm and friendly.
Classes are more focused on independent learning; tutors don’t prefer students being spoon-fed.
An agreed partnership between my college in Malaysia and Athlone Institute of Technology was the sole reason I was able to further my final year Bachelor of Arts in Accounting at 20 years old. The one-year I have here was the ‘swan song’ of my entire college life and I set out to make the best of it.
Accounting is a paradox. It is a field of study both dull and interesting. Unstimulating for those who draw the line at only textbooks. Captivating for those who allow imagination to take the wheel. Studying at Athlone Institute of Technology is probably one of the best ways of understanding the western education.
I applaud the efforts of the college of recognising the needs and wants of the students.
Classes are more focused on independent learning; tutors don’t prefer students being spoon-fed. This style of teaching was probably the most shocking revelation throughout my three months experience in Ireland. It is admirable to see the amount of freedom a student is given to steer the direction of their studies, definitely the polar opposite of the educational system back at home.
Apart from studies, clubs and societies at Athlone Institute of Technology are also something divergent from typical Malaysian ones. I absolutely applaud the efforts of the college of recognising the needs and wants of the students. Societies for Single Parent and the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) is a bold move indeed in respecting the rights of all students. I believe this is the main reason studying here is worth the investment.
Interested in studying abroad? Visit the Education in Ireland website for more information.