31.08.2009
"Studying abroad teaches to live in multi-cultural environments, destroys prejudices and stigmas and broadens horizons"
Lena Litkin is doing a Master´s programme in finance in Ulm (© Baden-Württemberg International)
Born in St. Petersburg, Russia, Lena Litkin moved to Israel in the 1990s. In 2006 she graduated with a Bachelor´s in applied mathematics at the Technion Israel – Institute of Technology.
She decided to study in Ulm when she read the description of the
Master´s programme in finance: According to the
University of Ulm’s official website, the international Master´s programme in finance provides students an “interdisciplinary education in mathematical finance. The programme is based on financial mathematics, applied mathematics and finance (together with insurance)”. The main focus of the programme is to enable students to understand modern techniques and theories from financial mathematics, so that they are well prepared for good jobs in financial institutions.
Lena is a very busy student. In spite of the enormous work load of her study course, she works as an assistant and teaches “asset pricing” at the University of Ulm, thus earning some money. Since she likes to travel, the location of Ulm in the Southwest of Germany is very attractive. Near Switzerland and Austria, right at the border to Bavaria, there is a lot to discover.
Lena has had very positive experiences in Germany: “When I first came here as a tourist, some years ago, I got lost in Munich and a woman I asked for help drove me to the center of the city and helped me to find a hotel.” Her friends in Israel were surprised when they heard of Lena’s decision to study in Germany – but when she goes home to visit them they are convinced: Lena doesn’t feel like a stranger in Ulm.
“Instilling an ability to handle change and to adapt to new situations, studying abroad makes young people independent. It teaches them to live in multi-cultural environments, destroys prejudices and stigmas and broadens horizons. I think that is a very positive and important experience in our today’s globalized world.”
