Cassina Subero

A passion for languages

Languages in general are such a great skill to have, both professionally and personally. I love learning and understanding different cultures and being able to connect with a wider group of people. With business, you gain valuable insight into managing resources and knowledge of other business disciplines like finance and marketing. In particular, my favourites are strategy and business psychology.

My course is very applicable in the real world. I get to experience diverse methods of teaching, whether it be in smaller language groups or larger business lectures and there is a lot of variety which keeps the course at Surrey interesting. The ‘business’ element provides the academic knowledge and skills to pursue global opportunities and despite studying amid a pandemic, the opportunity to study/work abroad is a key selling point for the language side of my course.

Professional Placement year

I carried out my professional placement virtually in lockdown, with a UK/Fiji based company called Think Pacific. During my placement I worked to further their goal of sustainable development, both in Fiji and globally. I was partnered with a small Fijian bee farm company who wanted to grow in the area of eco tourism. I designed and presented both a project proposal for this move and ran a social media campaign to increase their visibility. It was a wonderful cross-cultural experience and I had a Fijian mentor, learnt all about the Fijian culture and communicated with interns around the globe. The best part was the weekly cultural sessions where we would learn first-hand about traditional Fijian folklore and beliefs or engage in fun language sessions.

Seeing how Non-Governmental Societies are working to achieve the United Nations’ sustainable development goals highlighted to me the importance of championing ‘Purpose’ in all types of corporations.

I also studied an international Business programme online at the ESCI-UPF School of International Studies in Barcelona. Studying remotely was a great experience, despite the drawbacks of lockdown. The programme was highly applicable practically and has really helped me advance as a business student; I learnt about international business from a Spanish perspective, which has given me more incentive to work for a global company in the future.

I would definitely recommend doing a placement. Not only does it boost your CV, but the resilience, communication and confidence skills you gain will carry you forward through your professional and personal life. You may face rejections before you get the right job and although this can be disheartening, it’s normal and builds your perseverance skills and resilience! For me, my year didn’t go exactly how I planned due to lockdown, but it was a process of gain as opposed to loss.  

Employability

My time at Surrey has improved my chances of employability immensely. The beauty about Surrey is that they prioritise both academic and professional development, as most courses offer some sort of placement year, and really set you up for professional life once you graduate.