Vladyslav studies MSc Innovation and Industrial Management
Vladyslav Zahladko moved from Kyiv, Ukraine to study MSc Innovation and Industrial Management at the School of Business, Economics and Law in 2021. Half-way through his first year Ukraine was invaded, and he has been living the past six months in uncertainty. Now he has just started studying his second and last year as an international student in Gothenburg.
Being far away from home and not knowing what to expect next while studying a demanding Master’s programme, was not easy for Vladyslav.
-It was very hard mentally as my whole family and friends are in Ukraine. The past six months I have been living in this state of uncertainty when you don't know what to expect in an hour, in a day, or in a week, says Vladyslav. Eventually, I tried to channel those emotions into motivation to work and study, in order to contribute to my home country as much as possible. Thanks to the support of the School and my peers, I was able to keep working even during the darkest hours, he continues.
The reason Vladyslav chose to study in Gothenburg was to follow a childhood dream.
-My big dream since childhood was to work with cars, and since Gothenburg is a heart of the Swedish automotive industry it was a perfect match, says Vladyslav and continues; I also admired the Scandinavian countries for a long time prior to applying for a Master’s programme here. Moreover, Sweden in my opinion has a perfect environment for business development and is a leading innovation hub in Europe. Lastly, universities in Sweden proposed the best scholarship and education funding options. Combining all these facts, Sweden was the best option for my future!
When it was time to decide which programme to study Vladyslav read through the curriculum and course descriptions and the best match with his interest was the MSc Programme in Innovation and Industrial Management.
- Another important aspect was the alumni career path. I was searching for people who finished the MSc IIM program via LinkedIn to learn where they were working after graduation, comparing that to my plans and aspirations. Finally, was the actual feedback from the IIM programme students and alumni, which was very positive, says Vladyslav.
Vladyslav concludes that the main difference between Ukraine and Sweden lies in the approach to education.
- In Sweden, students are having more freedom in terms of how, when, and what to study. In Ukraine, the process is more predefined and linear. From my experience Swedish way of education requires students to demonstrate strong discipline and self-organization skills.
Moreover, Vladyslav thinks that the teachers at the School are very professional, open and student focused.
-They encourage creativity and always let your share all your feedback. I feel that they are on our side, and they truly want us to succeed, says Vladyslav.
According to Vladyslav the School perfectly combines interesting courses, a great learning environment and a variety of events and activities to make you a better person and professional
-Also, one of the most prominent things about my programme is structure, says Vladyslav. It is very diverse, and the education process here is not limited only to lectures or seminars. Courses can well include various workshops, guest lectures, live cases, on-field trips, individual or group assignments, and so on. Every course is unique and different, which makes learning extremely fun and engaging! At the same time, all courses are seamlessly linked together to create a coherent picture.
The childhood dream has been replaced with a new vision for Vladyslav;
- My goal is to work at the intersection of business and tech. I feel like it is the direction that I want to explore and where I can add the most value.