A World Full of Opportunities: Manombo’s UGRAD Experience
Students at UNIMA often participate in student exchange programmes with other universities across the globe, experiences which help them gain international exposure and skills. One of these is the Global Undergraduate Exchange Program (Global UGRAD), a student exchange programme that permits students to study for one semester at an American university. Yewo Manombo, a third-year student enrolled in the Bachelor of Science in Computer Science programme at UNIMA, recently took part in the Global UGRAD at the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire (UWEC) in the United States of America.
The desire to experience and learn new things motivated Manombo to apply for the Global UGRAD, and he was selected from a competitive pool of over 6,000 applicants. During his stay at UWEC, he acquired various skills and knowledge, including community service and cross-cultural communication. Beyond these skills, he described the experience as enriching, as he made friends from various countries and had the opportunity to witness and appreciate the diversity of global cultures, including his own Malawian heritage.
“Through this programme, I have learned the power of socializing, standing out, taking on leadership roles, and making connections,” he said. “This world has a lot of opportunities, but they only present themselves to people who have good connections.”
He described the Global UGRAD journey as both an educational experience and an adventure. Some of the key activities included attending a workshop in Washington hosted by World Learning, visiting various states, and engaging in community service and volunteer work as part of giving back to the host community.
Manombo concluded by encouraging his peers who wish to participate in the exchange programme to volunteer and take on leadership roles, as these experiences can strengthen their applications. His exchange journey began on 25th August 2024, and he completed the programme on 21st December 2024. Currently, two other students from UNIMA are also in the U.S. for the Global UGRAD.
