Eriselda Çaushi graduated from the Economics Department of Epoka University in 2015 and won a competitive Chevening Scholarship to pursue her master’s studies in the UK. She is now nearing completion of her master’s in International Business Economies at City, University of London and is looking forward to returning to Albania to put her degree to work. Eriselda graciously shared about her experience and perspectives in an online interview with representatives from the Economics Department.

Eriselda provided her perspective on the value of the Chevening scholarship:

Chevening offers a unique opportunity for future leaders, influencers, and decision-makers from all over the world to develop professionally and academically, network extensively, experience UK culture, and build lasting positive relationships with the UK.  On top of everything, Chevening is an attractive brand among academics and professionals and being a Chevening Scholar will differentiate you from the crowd. In every possible aspect, it will be a life-changing experience. I encourage all the students from Epoka University to apply for the Chevening scholarship. The university already offers a global prospective and this is quite an advantage for its students!

Asked what work she would like to do, Ms. Çaushi said:

Working for International Organizations such as UN, WTO, or IMF has been my goal since the moment I decided to study economics. Maybe I have always been a little bit of a dreamer and idealist, but I believe International Organizations are a great place to develop one’s skills and make a real difference to issues of national and international importance at the highest levels. My plan for the moment is to work toward this goal and I hope I will start somewhere soon.

I can confidently say that at Epoka University has an amazing curricula and program selection. It provides its students with the necessary skills to continue their studies at any competitive university abroad without facing any difficulties. I had an amazing time at Epoka, and I am forever grateful for the continuous support from the academic staff not only during my three years of study, but also afterwards.

When asked what advice she would give current students on how to succeed in their bachelor’s studies, Ms. Çaushi said:

A university degree is your ticket to better job opportunities and higher pay over your career. Whether you’re taking your existing career to the next level or going in a new direction, it’s very important to be able to answer the question: “Will this degree get me where I want to go?”

Suppose you are all clear about your goals, what I could say next and I cannot emphasize this enough, is focus. Focus on your studies during college and prioritize your life. University is a lifetime investment and getting the best out of it in three years is more important than you could possibly imagine. Not just your studies, but every other form of investment you make in your career in your early ages will have an exponential effect in your latter life. We live in a very competitive world and being average will not take you very far. You can excel academically and have fun at the same time; it does not have to be a choice of one or another. Trust me, I’ve been there and done that!

The Economics Department is proud of Eriselda Çaushi’s accomplishments and wishes her the best of success in completing her master’s degree and in contributing to a better future for Albania.