University of Oxford student intern bids farewell to UP

Posted on September 17, 2018

Sofia Garrè is an Italian student from the University of Oxford who recently finished an 8-week internship at the University of Pretoria (UP). “It was a steep learning curve,” she says, “But I really enjoyed my time in South Africa. I learnt a lot about the complex issues that South African students face before and after entering university, including access to data, to a proper secondary education, and to adequate food provisions. It was enlightening for someone from Europe, as we can barely conceive of the extreme polarities that exist in this country. But I loved seeing how diverse Pretoria is, and how universities like UP are helping to build a new and inclusive society.”

Sofia has a degree in Art History from the University of Exeter, and is set to receive her master’s degree in Art History from the University of Oxford. During her time at UP, Sofia undertook an internship in market research in order to better understand the higher education sector in South Africa, and also to learn more about student perceptions of UP.

Based on the market research she did here, Sofia praises UP’s teaching methods, which she says are evolving fast. “The university is also making a really big effort to get feedback from alumni and employers to ensure that current students are prepared for the workplace. There are amazing initiatives encouraging academic success, such as graduating on time (FLY@UP) and commitment to work-readiness, like the Ready for Work and Entrepreneurship campaigns. Of course, these initiatives are still quite new, and are constantly being improved, but they can truly add value to students’ degrees, and give them greater confidence when entering the workplace.”

Sofia found herself heading to UP after seeing the summer internship advertised online at Oxford in early 2018. “At the time, I was looking for a permanent job, so I wasn’t really considering internships. Fortunately, the Careers Office of the University of Oxford spoke about the opportunity to work for UP in an email. The internship sounded perfect for me and truly matched my interests, so I decided to apply, and I was fortunate enough to be selected.”

During her time in Pretoria, she loved noticing similarities and differences between UP and British universities. “Many things are different: I don’t think UK students would be motivated enough to ever show up for a 7:30AM lecture, for example. But other things are the same: I took a sneak peek into a graduation ceremony the other day, and it had the same festive feeling that graduations have back in the UK, with proud parents and grandparents tearfully watching their children walk the stage.”

As a citizen of the European Union, Sofia says she’s learned a lot about co-existence during her time at UP and in SA. “UP has a truly special campus, and you can see the history of the university unfolding in the buildings from different periods and architectural styles. But it did feel strange to live in such an enclosed environment, at first, and it took a while to stop noticing the electric fences and walls everywhere.” She also found that UP has a very strong community feel. “It’s very nice to see students enjoying the sun on the grass or sitting together at a cafeteria. In that respect, it’s quite different from The University of Oxford. Oxford doesn’t really have a campus, and the town itself is rather touristy, so students there have a very different experience.” 

Sofia has enjoyed her time at UP so much that she’s considering doing a master’s or doctorate in market research at UP. “There are so many opportunities out there, regardless of what one’s field of study is. I studied History of Art, but I loved and did quite well in my market research job here at UP. It’s all about keeping your options open, and seeing where the wind takes you.”

- Author Department of University Relations

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