When Koko Kato arrived in the Netherlands from Japan, her suitcase carried more than clothes and textbooks. It held ambition, uncertainty, and a quiet determination to succeed. Now, four years later, as she is about to complete her Bachelor’s in International Human Resource Management (IHRM) at Saxion, that determination has evolved into confidence and a clear vision for the future.
Starting strong
For many international students, the first year abroad feels like stepping onto a moving train. For Koko, it came with an added layer of responsibility: “As a non-EU student, I had to meet specific academic requirements to keep my residence permit,” she explains. “So in the beginning, I felt more pressure than excitement.”
Yet within that pressure, something powerful began to form. Koko focused not only on passing her courses but also on building a new life: forming friendships, adapting to a new culture, and exploring what her future could look like.
What drew her to the programme in the first place was its practical nature. She wasn’t looking for abstract theories alone. She wanted real-world insight, collaboration, and direction. And she found exactly that.
A truly international classroom
One of the defining aspects of Koko’s experience was the diversity within the IHRM programme. “You meet people from all over the world,” she says. “You don’t just study HR, you learn how it works across cultures.”
This global perspective turned classrooms into miniature ecosystems of ideas. Discussions were rich, perspectives broad, and the learning style very dynamic. It’s the kind of environment that prepares students for international careers without needing a passport stamp.
"You have so many opportunities here, but it’s up to you to take them. Your journey becomes what you make of it."
Bridging the gap between study and career
As the years progressed, Koko’s experience shifted from structured learning to hands-on application. “The most valuable part was the practical quarter,” she explains. “We worked with real companies on actual HR challenges.”
That moment when theory meets reality is where many students discover their professional identity. For Koko, it was a turning point. Combined with a six-month internship and the flexibility to choose her own minor, she built not just knowledge, but confidence: “I feel much more prepared for the workplace now than I did in my first year.”
Academic dedication and personal growth
Koko’s journey wasn’t limited to lectures and assignments. She earned a Saxion scholarship for three consecutive years, reflecting both her academic dedication and personal growth. Alongside her studies, she worked as a content creator at Saxion, developing creative and technical skills she hadn’t initially planned for. “That role helped me realise how much I enjoy creative work,” she says.
And then there was Europe itself, her extended campus. From Finland’s quiet landscapes to France’s vibrant streets and Germany’s cultural hubs, Koko explored beyond borders, creating a balance between academic focus and personal discovery.
A global career in the making
With graduation on the horizon, Koko is setting her sights on the next chapter. She plans to apply for an orientation-year visa in the Netherlands, aiming to gain professional experience in HR before eventually returning to Japan. “I know it can be competitive,” she admits. “But I want to try.” That willingness to step into uncertainty, again, is what defines her journey.
A message to future students
If there’s one lesson Koko would pass on, it’s simple but powerful:
Take the opportunities.
“At Saxion, there are so many resources available,” she says. “But you have to take initiative. In the end, you shape your own experience.”
Koko’s story is not just about studying abroad. It’s about transformation: turning pressure into progress, curiosity into clarity, and opportunity into direction.
For future international students considering Saxion, her experience offers a glimpse of what’s possible:
- A global education.
- A supportive environment.
- And a future shaped by your own choices.
