Tanguy Tresor Sindihebura is from Burundi. He's a PhD student at the University of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC), majoring in Information Systems. He is a full scholarship holder, and his research area focuses on the impact of stretch goals on crowdfunding performance. In this exclusive interview, Tresor talks about his academic journey.

 

1. What brought you to China for your studies?

Burundi is an East African country located between Congo and Tanzania. Our population is about 11 million, almost the same as that of Ningbo. It's a tiny country.

China is a fast-developing nation, and I came here for two main reasons.

Firstly, this is an excellent opportunity to study and learn in a country that has gone from being less developed to being as modern and powerful a nation as it is today, which could inspire the future development of my homeland.

Secondly, unlike other countries such as the US or the UK, China offers affordable yet high-quality higher education.

 

2. What has been your experience so far?

I've been in China since 2016. I studied for my undergraduate degree at another university in Ningbo. As an international student, you are "separated" from the local Chinese students. For example, all the international students were studying computer science in one classroom, and another group of Chinese students of the same age were studying the same thing elsewhere. But in a new country, I want to fit into local circles, make local friends, and experience the local customs and cultures.

One striking difference is that when I first came to the University of Nottingham Ningbo, China, all students sat in the same classroom regardless of where they came from. It was a truly dynamic and international environment with students from around the world. It was very different from my previous experiences in China. Even the quality of learning and teaching was different, to be honest. All courses at UNNC are taught in English, and we have professors and experts from all corners of the world. I really feel the sense of being part of a global community on this campus.

 

3. What kind of support have you received as an international student?

As an international student, beyond the school support in matters such as visas and internships, we also get help from the local government, such as the Ningbo government scholarship for international students, given each year to international PhD students.

 

4. Let's talk about your current studies and research at UNNC.

I earned my Master's degree at UNNC and continued my PhD here because UNNC was an excellent platform for empowering students to chase their dreams.

At UNNC, many supervisors are very open-minded and supportive. Taking my personal experience as an example, I first followed my supervisor's initial research path. However, seeing that it may not lead us toward what we were expecting, my supervisors allowed me to explore other paths that eventually led to what I'm working on now.

Furthermore, I've benefited from UNNC's vast network. I can connect with other renowned international scholars and get the opportunity to attend seminars and workshops in person or online.

With the recommendation of my supervisor, I was allowed to get involved in global professional associations such as the Association of Information Systems (AIS). Last year, I was successfully listed in the first student cohort of the AIS Entrepreneurial Innovation Fellowship Programme. I am proud to say that I was the only student in Asia to be selected for this programme. With the support of AIS and Graduate School, I've been able to attend conferences and summits in many different cities and countries.

The university provides us with dedicated labs, equipment and facilities to advance our research and enhance our learning experience at UNNC. We use the Digital Business & Analytics Lab (DBA Lab) at the Business School in teaching sessions, allowing us to do complicated calculations, business simulations, etc. We also have access to a dedicated server to process data much faster than on our own computers.

 

5. What is life like being a PhD student?

Typically, I would say that you spend most of your time reading papers and writing your thoughts daily. You often attend weekly training and workshops and meet with supervisors and colleagues. Now and then, you have a nice dinner with your research group or your supervisor's team.

 

6. How is campus life generally in Ningbo and China as an international student?

The campus at UNNC is very accommodating and quite friendly to international students. You can easily find food that suits your taste in the many canteens and restaurants on the campus. Ningbo is a beautiful, fast-developing city with many tourist places and entertainment activities. Transportation around the city is very convenient, with many subway stations (with many more to come) and buses reaching every part of the city. The city is also foreigner-friendly, as you will find many signs in Chinese and English on the road and the buses or subways.

 

7. It sounds like you are having an incredible journey at UNNC, where you have been fully supported. What are your plans once you graduate?

After graduation, I would like to explore China more. I'd like to look for employment opportunities in cities like Chongqing and Chengdu, which are very different from the coastal cities. I'm also open to any domestic and international possibilities, and hopefully, it will lead me to a new, exciting chapter of my life.

 

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