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Asper International Exchange program signed 12 new partnerships in 2024, expanding experiential learning options for students

Apply today for 2025/26 and begin new journeys around the world

January 16, 2025 — 

Last year 99 students represented the Asper School of Business around the world, gaining insights in global business, supply chain, finance, marketing, and more across five continents.

In 2024, the Asper Exchange Program signed 12 new partnerships, continuing to expand options for students with over 60 business school partners in over 30 countries around the world.

For the first time, Asper students can study in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and have not one but two options in Scotland (Edinburgh and Glasgow). They also have access to new partner schools in France, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Netherlands, Slovakia, and Spain.

The language of home

Helin Emre may be one of the first Asper students to attend Bilkent University in Ankara, Turkey, but for her, it was a return home.

Emre moved to Canada from Turkey as a child and wanted to experience living there as an adult while advancing her studies.

She describes her wonder at the famous Cappadocia hot air balloons, the liveliness of Istanbul, and the gravity of the Blue Mosque. She wandered Mardin, marveling at the architecture against the backdrop of conversations in Kurdish (her native tongue).

Emre explains how the enriching cultural exchange impacted her studies in actuarial mathematics as well. “In terms of academics, the biggest opportunity was learning about my field of study in a different light and cultural lens, allowing me to access new perspectives and a global knowledge,” she says.

“I would definitely recommend doing an exchange to other Asper students. Not only do you learn tons about yourself, but you meet incredible people and are put in an environment where it’s necessary to learn and grow as both a student and individual,” she adds.

From the islands to the city

As the first Asper student to study at Taylor’s University in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Sophia Ali was nervous but excited.

“It felt scary at first because I didn’t know what to expect,” she recalls.

But Ali had done her research, selecting Taylor’s in part because of cost-effectiveness and because she had a loftier goal in mind for her exchange trip.

“I saw it as an opportunity to broaden my perspective on different cultures and to gain the knowledge of what it’s like to live in another country,” she says.

Once she arrived, Ali felt her apprehension dissipate as she connected with exchange students from other countries and explored the country. She navigated the bustling city of Kuala Lumpur and found ease amid the country’s many islands and beaches.

Having returned from her exchange, Ali looks forward to sharing her experience—the nerves of the first few days and the subsequent exploration and enjoyment—with her peers.

“It honestly was exciting to be the first student to go to Taylor’s as I am now able to help future students who someday want to study in Malaysia,” she says.

Places shaped by time

Moving between the Kenting coastline, the peaks of the Alishan Range, the serenity of Sun Moon Lake, and the urban centre of Taipei, Shiloh Liu spent her exchange familiarizing herself with both the natural and cultural landscapes of Taiwan.

Studying at National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) in Tainan, Taiwan, Liu hoped to expand her understanding of Taiwan’s political and cultural history.

With aspirations of pursuing her CPA designation, Liu also wanted to bolster her knowledge from a global point of view. She recounts courses that brought in high-level professionals from industry, academia, and government.

“This allowed us to understand how theoretical knowledge is applied in the real world, particularly in the field of accounting and data management,” she says.

She shares how she wasn’t just the first Asper student to study at NCKU, but also the only Canadian student there that term.

“I felt honoured to be part of such a diverse exchange program. While most exchange students were from France and Germany, only three of us were from North America—two from the US and me, representing Canada.

“It was a unique and enriching experience to interact with students from different parts of the world,” she says.

With new partner schools and more relationships built each year, the Asper Exchange Program brings the best in experiential learning around the world, giving students the chance to deepen their business knowledge, test out their independence, and make incredible global connections.

Applications for Summer 2025, Fall 2025, and Winter 2026 are now open until January 31, 2025. Visit the Asper Exchange Program page to learn more about applying today.

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