Henrik Dombovari hails originally from Hungary and lives & studies now at Kouvola. Henrik courages everyone to step out of their comfort zone. “The best options are waiting for you there”, says Henrik.
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
My name is Henrik Dombovari and I am from Hungary and came here to study Digital International Business at Xamk. I am majoring in International Marketing and finishing my degree soon.
Why is Xamk so special that you decided to study over here?
I looked at the selection of international universities and study options but I was enrolled for a different degree program back in Hungary so I was not actively choosing any of those options. However, I saw an advertisement during the summer one week before the application deadline and thought “You know what, let’s give it a shot and see what happens”. I got accepted and here we are! Only time can tell but I feel I made the right decision on applying to Xamk.
So what has been the best part in your studies so far?
I really like the way our curriculum is structured. I think it supports professional development quite nicely and the fact that we do not have 10 different courses and subjects within a week makes studying here a lot more enjoyable. The school seems open to new ways of teaching, for example we had courses that implemented a business game into the education. Also the recent transition (which was quite smooth) to online teaching seems to have worked out well. I think universities of applied sciences should really consider teaching hands-on experience, and being quick to change the way Xamk has is a great ability.
The school also provides options and opportunities to build your professional network if you choose so which is a beneficial and necessary addition to studies. I would love to see more of that in the future! 😊
What about teaching and practical orientation? What about different projects?
I have not yet taken part in any of the projects organized by Xamk specifically, as far as I can remember. However, I do know that there has been quite many events in the past such as TEDx and a stream of the Nordic Business Forum. I am sure there has been a lot more, but these are the ones that I attended.
These projects usually involve student participation as well which I think is a really nice way to implement and teach strategy and methods to students. Giving the chance to actually produce content, create a marketing strategy, and negotiate deals with people is a very functional and, hopefully, a welcomed feature from the student’s point of view as well.
You were part of a startup festival team – how was it? What was the best part? What was challenging?
Yes, I was the Mentoring Team Manager of *ship Startup Festival. In my opinion it was amazing. *ship tries to connect young entrepreneurs and mentors to help the startups/entrepreneurs develop their idea further so being able to meaningfully contribute to a goal like that was amazing.
I think it is easiest to answer if I consider the best and the challenging part together. Organizing a festival online/hybrid is a huge challenge. Many things that usually work when you are on location just simply do not work in an online environment. The fact that we still managed to organize *ship and make it happen is staggering especially if you take into account that it was all organized by students with no or little event management skills and experience in the industry. I am glad I got to meet and work with all the people I did. I think this is both the best and the most challenging part as well.
What motivates you in your studies? Can you give any good tips?
I have the ability to focus on the bigger picture in any project I am working on and I try not to get carried away too much with the minor things. This is also true for my studies. I am quite close to graduation, so seeing that the work that I have put in is soon coming to an end is a huge motivation to me.
As for tips, I think the best advice I could give would be to step out of your comfort zone as the best options are waiting for you there.
Have you decided your thesis topic? If yes, can you tell us a little bit about it?
Not quite clearly. I have thought about it and I do have a direction but the details are a bit blurry at the moment. I would like to write about the importance of networking as I believe this subject has not been emphasized enough during studies even though I believe it is of key importance to start building your professional networks as early as possible.
What kinds of plans do you have for the near future? What are your career plans?
I would like to complete my studies before December and I will most likely be busy with my remaining courses as well as the thesis. I am leaving myself some extra time just in case I cannot finish my thesis. My next challenge right after Xamk is hopefully going to be starting my master’s degree in Tampere next autumn and finding a job there 😊. I am really excited about the next year and looking forward to these events.
By the way, do you have any good advice for applying to Xamk?
I could say many things, but if you have thought about going abroad to study and learn in an international environment, then why not do it? It is always easier to go back than to leave the place you are at and going abroad will not only broaden your perspective but also help you in the future in many ways.
Thank you for the interview and good luck to your studies!