From the Netherlands to Japan: How IHRM students broaden their horizons

For IHRM students Wesley Brouwer and Zuan Leurink, that opportunity took them to Japan. Although they followed the same exchange destination, their experiences were not always the same. Their individual perspectives made their time abroad unique, while both gained valuable personal and intercultural insights that connect closely to the international focus of IHRM.

A study programme with a global perspective

Wesley chose IHRM because he wanted to meet people from different cultures and develop a broader international perspective. As borders are becoming increasingly less important in both society and business, he believes that cultural awareness and experience with people from different parts of the world will be valuable for his future. In addition, he appreciates the opportunity to build friendships with people from around the world.

Zuan chose IHRM because the programme offers an international learning environment with a strong focus on people and business. Having grown up in the Netherlands with Dutch parents, while also having a Chinese background, she was particularly interested in studying alongside people from different nationalities and cultural backgrounds.

"The programme appealed to me because it explores how people think, behave and work within professional organisations. Through studying IHRM in an international classroom, I developed a broader understanding of cultural differences and gained insight into the various perspectives people bring to the workplace. This combination of international exposure, human behaviour and business made IHRM the right choice for me."

Why Japan?

Although both students chose Japan, their motivations were different. For Wesley, Japan represented a dream destination and the chance to experience a completely different culture. "I wanted to go to Japan for eight years. This programme gave me an easy way to get there and experience student life and the country as well. That dream came forth out of a desire to explore the world and be in a totally different culture compared to the Netherlands."

Zuan chose Japan because she had already been interested in Japanese culture and history for many years. "My interest initially grew through watching anime, which encouraged me to learn more about the country and its culture. As someone with an Asian background who grew up in the Netherlands, I was also curious to experience life in an Asian country and to discover how everyday life in Japan differs from life in the Western world."

She specifically chose Kyoto over Tokyo because of its cultural heritage. "I could choose between Tokyo and Kyoto, and the reason I chose Kyoto is that it is much more culturally rooted than Tokyo. Don’t get me wrong, Tokyo was wonderful and such a different experience. It is very modern and high tech. But Kyoto was definitely more culturally rooted, and that really appealed to me. On top of that, it is located more in the middle of Japan, which gave me many options when it came to travelling."

Experiencing cultural differences

Living abroad means adapting to new customs and ways of thinking. Both students quickly noticed differences between Dutch and Japanese culture. Wesley found that Japanese people were generally very polite and respectful. In his experience, showing the same respect in return made it easy to adapt to daily life in Japan.

For Zuan, the biggest difference was the way people communicate and show respect. For example, she learned that not everything needs to be questioned or explained. "I think that is also part of cultural difference: not everything has to be asked or explained, but sometimes it should simply be respected."

Their experiences also differed in smaller, everyday moments. For example, Zuan was able to shop for clothes without many difficulties, while Wesley found that most clothing sizes in Japan were simply too small for him. These kinds of personal experiences reminded them that everyone experiences another culture in their own way.

Personal growth

When asked what they learned most from their experience abroad, both students emphasised personal development. Wesley learned the importance of taking initiative; "Speak up and take initiative. If you wait for others to make the life adventure something fun, you might wait for eternity."

Zuan gained a broader perspective on life. She explains that living abroad helped her realise how much the world has to offer. Zuan: "There are so many places to explore, so many people to meet, and so many life lessons to learn from different perspectives."