Towards greater self-discovery

College of Humanities and Sciences (CHS) student Tricia CHONG, who majors in Food Science and Technology (FST), experienced many firsts during her student exchange at Wageningen University, the Netherlands.

For one, she had the unique opportunity to participate in a research project supervised by an expert from a food startup in Italy to develop a sustainable cocoa butter replacement. This sought to address food product quality and opens up opportunities for product and process improvements.  

She says, “This experience exposed me to cutting-edge developments in the food technology industry, such as precision fermentation theory,” and enabled her to acquire practical insights into their real-world applications.  

She also gained exposure to tools and concepts that are not covered in the FST curriculum here, not only through the Bachelor’s level courses, but also by reading a Master’s level course which allowed her to challenge herself academically. Participating in campus activities, such as the thesis market for students, also offered broader and deeper exposure to research in the field.

A compact lecture and assignment schedule and the university’s focus on hands-on learning, together with its strong emphasis on collaborative learning in group projects with “short runways” benefited her in more ways than one. She did not only pick up time management skills. She also learned the importance of giving and receiving feedback in group projects, which encouraged her to reflect on her strengths, weaknesses and ways to improve.

The proximity of the Netherlands to other European countries and the large international student population meant that her project groups were always diverse. Working with multiple international teams “significantly enhanced my ability to work in culturally diverse teams,” she says.

Tricia did not just benefit by immersing herself in Wageningen University’s strong academic culture. Importantly, she also gained valuable life lessons when she had to adapt quickly to “drastic lifestyle changes” such as preparing her own meals, adapting to the much colder climate, finding accommodation, navigating the medical system, managing her finances, and coping with homesickness. 

Throwing herself into campus activities, embracing the Dutch cycling culture and exploring the local area on her bike helped her to build a sense of community and belonging. She also participated in the Winter Annual Introduction Days, where she interacted with a group of international undergraduate and postgraduate students from various disciplines through workshops, games, meals and parties. She says, “Through this, I got to experience the typical social life of a Dutch university student.”

Tricia cites “significant personal and professional growth opportunities” as one of her key takeaways. Engaging with diverse cultures firsthand both in and outside of work, she believes, “is critical to fostering open-mindedness, intercultural communication skills and a global perspective,” soft skills that are valuable in today’s interconnected world.

In short, Tricia’s exchange experience was a significant step forward towards attaining her academic and career goals. “I hope to contribute to research and translate it to real-world impact in nutrition and sustainability in the future,” she says.