The Rubik’s Cube is a famous brain teaser to come out of Hungary, and students from South Devon College undertook a similar educational workout when they visited the country to take part in the International Business Game.
Thanks to the Turing Scheme funding, the Level 3 Business and A Level students were welcomed by students at partner college, Szeged SZC Kőrösy József Technical School of Economics, to collaborate on the business simulation.
Partnering with Hungarian and German students, our Devonian students were tasked with setting up a fictional business, sourcing and subsequently selling stock, realising a profit.
“We got on very well with the Hungarian students, even though there was a slight language barrier occasionally,” said student Zach Squire.
Lucy Collins agreed: “They all spoke English really well. We just had to use Google Translate a couple of times if they didn’t understand our humour!”
The students gained once-in-a-lifetime experiences during the two-week trip, including sampling traditional Hungarian dishes such as goulash, visiting famous landmarks and forming friendships with their peers.
The trip also highlighted the differences between the education systems in Hungary and the UK.
“The school environment was quite different to ours. They have strict break times, and their lessons can be different to ours. When they learn English, they concentrate on how to hold conversations rather than just focusing on basic words,” observed student Shanae Goodinson.
Education is free in Hungary, including at university level, but the students noticed it’s different from university in the UK: “It’s very strict – they are 21 but they still have to lock their phones away all day. They are accepting of it because it’s all they’ve ever known,” said Emily Claxton.
They were even invited to the school prom, which ranged from formal dance routines and traditional Hungarian dances to hip hop and disco, which was quite an eye opener!
The students made the most of the European trip, immersing themselves in the local culture and sightseeing in both Budapest and Szeged.
They visited The Votive Church and Cathedral of Our Lady of Hungary (known locally as Szegedi dóm or Fogadalmi templom), where they tested their fitness by climbing 300 steps up to the top of one of the towers. The cardio workout was worth it, resulting in breathtaking views of the city from the top.
“We had a tour of the Cathedral from one of the local teachers and some students, seeing some amazing historical architecture,” explained Gabriel Powell-Essen.
It was a whirlwind of activities, including a boat trip across the River Danube, when they enjoyed a four-course meal on board followed by entertainment. They were also lucky enough to see a performance of the famous ballet ‘The Nutcracker’ at Szegedi Nemzeti Színház (National Theatre of Szeged), which was a cultural treat.
There was some relaxing downtime too, including a visit to Anna Thermal Bath in Szeged, which had lots of different pools to soak in.
“Hungary is known for its spas. My favourite was the pool containing mineral water which is supposed to rejuvenate – it was very relaxing and a lovely experience,” said Emily Claxton.
And it wasn’t all about Hungary – the group managed to fit in a day trip to Serbia, catching the bus to Palić where they tasted traditional Serbian food and then walked it off by visiting Lake Palić on foot.
The trip was educational, cultural, fun and inspirational in equal measures. “You get to learn more about yourself – you’re there without your family and you learn more about other cultures. It’s very eye opening,” admitted Shanae Goodinson.
Josh Watson-Pease agreed: “I was exposed to a wider range of cultural diversity during the trip, and it’s made me more accepting of other people’s opinions and understanding of their point of view.”
Pawel Szymanski, Programme Co-ordinator of Art and Design at South Devon College, accompanied the students. He said: “Our students were fantastic in terms of creativity and thinking outside the box, whilst having fun.
“The Hungarians were very organised and respectful of each other, in a more traditional sense. So, there was learning happening on both sides and it was a fantastic experience.”
Caroline Wilkinson, Lecturer in Business at the College, also took part in the visit. She said: “Our students were brilliant – thank you very much for being such good sports and being so pleasant and hospitable with your Hungarian counterparts. They learned a lot about business, international time zones and collaboration and it was a learning curve for everyone.”
Numerous countries participate in the Business Game, including Germany, Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, Hungary and the UK, forming a strong international partnership of organisations.
The project was made possible through the Turing Scheme programme, the Government-funded project offering global travel and enrichment opportunities to students to boost their life skills and relevant career options, during work or study placements.
