Lucas in Bhutan – our student talks about his academic journey to "the Thunder Dragon Kingdom”

As many students can surely relate to, the semester abroad is what I looked forward to most throughout my studies. Thanks to the incredible opportunity offered by the exchange program and the expansive network of SRH’s partner universities, I currently find myself studying at the Royal Thimphu College in Thimphu, Bhutan. Now many of you may be asking yourselves… Bhutan? What is this? Where is this? In the upcoming regular blog posts, I intend to tell you all about this incredibly unique, lush and peaceful Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan, also known as “The Thunder Dragon Kingdom”. Apart from sharing my personal experiences of living and studying here, I will also be giving you a glimpse of the many insights and knowledge I have gained during my stay. You can look forward to topics such as preparing for studying abroad in Bhutan, the seemingly endless journey leading up to my arrival, life in quarantine, campus life at Royal Thimphu College (RTC), the courses offered, the people here, the many friends I’ve made, and the abundant free time experiences. Beyond my own experience, I will share my insights into the unique political and economic situation of Bhutan as well as its rich history and vividly preserved culture.

Currently, I am on the final stretch of my bachelor’s degree in International Business at SRH. Thanks to the high flexibility of both SRH and RTC, I’ve had the opportunity to take a variety of courses of my choice here at RTC. The most interesting and relevant to my studies is titled “Business Project”. In this course, management and marketing student teams closely collaborate with local Bhutanese businesses, whereby the students act as a consultant team to the respective business. As an international business student, I could not have asked for a better opportunity to experience and contribute meaningful work towards a real business in the context of an entirely different and unique culture. In addition to this, I am also taking the following courses: “Environmental Economics”, which focuses on the environment’s role within business and economics; “Bhutanese Economy and Social Capital”, focusing on the unique economy of Bhutan and the increasing importance of social capital within society and the economy; “Frontiers in Environmental Management and Sustainable Development”, a theory-focused course on the future of development as a concept; “Dzongkha as a Foreign Language”, in order to learn the national language of Dzongkha along with seven of the eight other international students on campus. And finally, “Myths, Morals and Memory: Folk Literature”, which provides insights into the incredibly rich oral traditions that have been exceptionally well preserved in Bhutan. Throughout the blog I will also be going into more detail about these courses and my general academic experiences at RTC.

I look forward to sharing my experiences as an exchange student and hope to spark your interest in this incredible country and maybe even inspire you to look into the opportunity of studying at RTC, in case your own semester abroad lies ahead.