Participating in any Exchange Programme offers an excellent opportunity for the student to make friends, to build networks and learn about other cultures. It also gives the student a chance to experience the host country's cultural diversity, its stimulating cosmopolitan environment and explore the countries around it while still pursuing the undergraduate or postgraduate studies. The following students can attest to this: "Participation in the student exchange programme was extremely beneficial, because on top of the subsistence (finance etc.), I learnt a lot about Asia, and particularly Singaporean culture, people, society and studying / business environment. I naturally also learnt a lot about myself during my five months stay abroad, and created many new contacts with both Asian and European people. It also made me consider Singapore as a potential future place to work and live." -- Vesa Antero Uotila on Exchange at SMU, 2005-2006, from Helsinki School of Economics, Finland "The programme was incredibly beneficial to me. The programme has given me experience with living in a big and exciting city, study with interesting people and being thought by fascinating teachers (and the list goes on). Singapore is a perfect place for an exchange in Asia because the culture in Singapore is like a Bridge between the West and the East." -- Jelle Mattelaer, on Exchange at SMU, 2004-2005 from Ku Leuven, Belgium "The exchange programme was really beneficial because I learned a lot from the courses and about the culture, got lots of new friends (local also). It will benefit me in the future to be able to combine the Eastern and Western ways to do teamwork and business." --- Anna Palo, on Exchange at SMU, 2003-2004 from Helsinki School of Economics & Business Administration, Finland "Having gone on this exchange has definitely helped in my self-development as well as enhanced my gregarious and independence personality, and inter-cultural communication skills. It was a great experience and exposure to study overseas for a period of time, having to live alone and learning to do everything on my own. Besides, it was a rare opportunity to be able to go on an exchange to Finland and experience the drastic cold weather, unique culture and composed lifestyle, which was certainly a contrast from Singapore. The exchange program has also broadened my international circle of friends and widened my perspectives in life. The DUO award was definitely beneficial as the living standard in Europe, particularly Finland, is high. Being awarded the DUO has helped lighten the financial burden on my family and myself. I could concentrate on my studies without having to worry about the finances incurred during my exchange. As a native from Singapore, I was able to promote my country to the people I met from around the world during my exchange. This is especially informative to those who have not heard much about my country." --- Geraldine Goh Puay Jia, SMU student on Exchange at Helsinki School of Economics, Finland, 2002-2003 "The exchange in Austria opened my horizons. The education system is fundamentally different. There were courses where I only had an oral examination with the professor and even a course where I spent 3 days in a resort in the mountains. Memories I will carry with me include the skiing trips, the first day it snowed, great friends (who in turn came to Singapore for exchange!!), hearty and oily Austrian cuisines and the amazing road trips to the surrounding countries. I have much to thank the Asia-Europe Meeting's (ASEM) DUO Fellowship Fund (Singapore) for supporting me through this life-changing experience. " --Keng Seng Keat, NTU student on Exchange to Vienna University of Business Administration and Economics, Austria, 2005-2006 "Biological Sciences the Scandinavian Way was definitely a nostalgic experience. Being one of the few Asians in Denmark, I actively participated in every activity ranging from project works to parties which proves to be utmost rewarding. This life-changing experience was only made possible with the Asia-Europe Meeting's (ASEM) DUO Fellowship Fund (Singapore), and with the help of my university." --Daren Low, NTU student on Exchange at Technical University of Denmark, 2005-2006 "Studying in Sweden and backpacking solo across Europe has allowed me to taste the flavour of many cities. It was refreshing to be exposed to a different way of life. While interacting with other students and travellers, I got a sense of how their culture and socio-economic environment have shaped them. The four months away from home in Europe has definitely opened up a new dimension in my perspective and has made me wish I could have the best of both worlds!" --Foo Fang Wei, NTU Student, on Exchange at Lulea University of Technology, Sweden, 2004-2005 "My 5 months in Sweden was an enriching and exciting period. Everyday was a new experience and a chance to meet new friends. I am glad I made the decision to apply for INSTEP and the DUO scholarship." --Wong Jing Kai, NTU Student, on Exchange at Linkoping University, Sweden, 2004-2005 "Singapore is such a nice place to be. The weather is nice all year long. The food is diverse, good and cheap. The people are nice and friendly and the educational facilities are good. This has been a wonderful opportunity to broaden my horizon, both as a future engineer and as a human being. I almost don't want to go back!" Hoa Nguyen, on Exchange at NTU, 2003-2004 from Delft University of Technology, Netherlands "My Semester in Singapore was one of the best things I've ever done. Studying in a high educational university and still have Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia just around the corner is very exciting. I have lots of great experiences from my time in Singapore and I'm very grateful the way DUO-Singapore Exchange Fellowship Award helped me to achieve it." David Schönström, on Exchange at NTU, 2003-2004 from Lulea University of Technology, Sweden "Participating in an exchange programme in Singapore is a very exceptional experience to discover the Asian way of life and to learn about other cultures. The DUO-SINGAPORE fellowship Award had played a vital role in helping me to realize this project and also had offered me the opportunity to travel a lot in Southeast Asia, broadening my horizons. Finally, studying in Singapore represented for me a great opportunity to attend courses in domains which were not taught by my school in France. This exchange year has been an unforgettable one for me." Nathalie Champier, on Exchange at NTU, 2003-2004 from INSA Lyon, France "I've really enjoyed my time here so far, though I'm now in the midst of exam preparations. Lectures have been the most difficult part about studying here, especially due to the technical language....but it does feel good to actually be able to converse with the locals in German! And the fact that I'm actually able to understand them never fails to surprise me!! The DUO has certainly helped a lot, as the cost of living here is pretty steep, but I'm really pleased to be given this opportunity to come here for exchange, to gain this experience and for the many friends I've made so far. This has definitely provided me with a different perspective and I'm glad of this chance to be able to embark on this totally new and enriching experience." --- Ms SHIH E'Shan, 3rd year NUS Faculty of Engineering (Mechanical Engineering), Exchange at Technical University of Darmstadt, Germany, 2004-2005 "During my first semester here in Singapore I got to know and study with people from many different cultures and backgrounds, cultures which would be hard to get in contact with in my home country. This is very inspiring!  Inter-cultural relationships are very important, especially in the political world of today. I hope that my own and all other exchange students' presence is beneficial not only for ourselves but also for the people we meet while being on exchange." --- Mr Erik UNEMYR, on exchange at NUS Faculty of Engineering (Electrical Engineering), 2004-2005 from Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden