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By Samantha Flores / Staff Writer
RCC goes international (Ryan Lynch / Photo Editor’s Assistant)
By Samantha Flores / Staff Writer
When given the opportunity to study in an entirely different country, some might be hesitant.
However, this is not the case for business majors Trine Zachariassen and Ulrik Mouridsen, Riverside City College’s very own exchange students here from Denmark.
Here for only one semester from Niels Brock Business College in Copenhagen, both of these Danish students are undergoing specific requirements while studying at RCC.
The exchange agreement states that although they are completing their degrees in Denmark, both Danish students may attend their final semester on a tuition-free scholarship.
All they must pay for is their own books, room and board, travel and entertainment.
For each Danish student who comes here, RCC is able to send one of its students to Niels Brock on a tuition-free scholarship.
Niels Brock was founded in 1881 and accommodates around 25,000 students, many of whom are international students.
Every Niels Brock student studies in another country for at least one semester.
Currently, there are no students from RCC studying in Denmark.
Before these students were considered in the exchange program, Niels Brock College scrutinized both students’ transcripts and made sure that all classes were passed with reasonable grades.
Besides their academics, they also had to be reviewed on how well they speak English.
The program wanted to be sure there would be no problem living and studying in the U.S. for these students.
Although these students are here to study, their free time is taken up by exploring the U.S., meeting new people, studying, and even volunteering for Habitat for Humanity.
Habitat For Humanity International, is an international, ecumenical Christian, non-governmental non-profit organization devoted to building “simple, decent, and affordable” housing.
Zachariassen and Mouridsen’s experiences have been truly worth the transfer and certainly have been rewarding.
“So far it has been a very good experience. It is great to meet new people and experience a new culture,” Mouridsen said.
Like Mouridsen, Zachariassen believes the overall experience has been great, especially because of the many people and places she has embraced.
“I think RCC is a good school and I have some really good professors, which I appreciate,” she said.
“I have Danish friends who are exchange students as well, who live in L.A and San Diego, which have given me the opportunity to visit them on the weekends,” Zachariassen said.
When the weekends are over, reality is back and school becomes the number one priority again.
While here at RCC, both Zachariassen and Mouridsen are undergoing senior projects which are required for graduation.
Each of these students are seemingly very happy about their experience and education here in the U.S.
The appeal for attending RCC lied not only in the college’s beauty, but for the educational programs offered.
“I got a couple of schools to choose from in California and I chose RCC because I thought it sounded like a good school from what I could read on their Web site and the classes it offered appealed to me,” Zachariassen said.
According to Marylin Jacobsen, the Director of the Center for International Students and Programs here at RCC, Niels Brock has agreements with many colleges, and they approached RCC to become one of their partner colleges.
“This is the first year we will be promoting students going to Denmark, and would like one or two RCC business majors to apply. We will have applications in the International Office Tech B 203,” Jacobsen said.
Going to another country, like the students here from Denmark, highlights the many opportunities college students are granted with.
Studying abroad through RCC has been a complete success for Zachariassen and Mouridsen.
If given the option for an RCC student to study abroad, these Danish students can prove that the experience is truly rewarding and worth taking advantage of this once in a life-time opportunity.
For college students looking to travel and even explore more information is being provided to studying abroad in the International Office Tech B 203.