For Nadia from Afghanistan, studying is a dream come true

Nadia is incredibly happy to have completed a two-year programme in Marketing Management this summer, at the International Business Academy, Kolding; while also embarking on an online bachelor’s programme in International Business from Leeds Beckett University in the UK, with which IBA Kolding maintains a close collaboration. And in fact she already has a bachelor’s degree to her name, from her time spent living with her husband in Sønderborg.

Tackling two demanding study programmes at the same time is a lot to take on, admits Nadia, who is also mother of two children, of seven and four.

“I’ve always dreamt of taking further education - and for me, a big motivating factor for making it happen is that fact that we live here, in Denmark. So I haven’t thought too much about the pressures on my time,” says Nadia, who on occasion has studied until three in the morning, long after the children have been put to bed.

“I’ve valued it a lot, because it has felt like I’m making the best possible use of my time,” she says, regarding the many hours each day spent immersed in her studies.

Her husband has been a great help at home, she hastens to add, while she has been focusing on both the full-time study programme and the online course - and there will continue to be a need for this, even though the Marketing Management programme is now officially completed.

Straight into a job

Nadia has been hired by IBA, where for 30 hours a week she will continue her work in the International Office, where she interned during her studies. She carries out this work as ‘International Coordinator’, while continuing her online bachelor’s through the English university.

“I think of myself as a lifelong student,” says Nadia. “Although I may not actually study this much again, I’d like to implement it as a strategy in my life, so that I’m always learning something new - because education is a positive influence for me, and because the world is changing all the time, and education is the best way of keeping yourself up to date with what’s happening.”

Nadia met her husband in India, and due to his Danish-Afghan background the couple ended up moving to the Danish island of Als; and subsequently to Kolding, because of work and studies.

“Right now, working at IBA is a dream job, since during my internship I was really taken with the idea of working within the world of education - where I would now like to develop, both personally and professionally,” she says.

19/08/2022