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Julia Kochelska (University of Warsaw, Poland) at Arundel Castle gardens; Her research project: “Artificial Intelligence and Bank Performance: A Panel Data Analysis of the Banking Sector in the United Kingdom” with supervisor Dr Sulimierska (USBS)

Zhicheng Shen (Zhejiang Gongshang University, China) at the Seven Sisters; His research project: “Joint 3D UAV Deployment and AI Computing Resource Scheduling for Risk-Aware Autonomous Driving in Urban Blind Spots” with supervisor Prof Sheng (EngInf)

Adam Gryč (Charles University, Czech Republic) in London His research project: “UK HIV Services' Uptake and Real-World Implementation of Long-Acting Injectable CAB+RPV: A Mixed-Methods Study Mapping Adoption Cascades” with supervisor Dr Alford (BSMS)

This summer, the University of Sussex hosted a group of international undergraduate students as part of the International Junior Research Associate (IJRA) Scheme.

The IJRA Scheme, now in its 12th year, offers students from around the world the opportunity to work on research projects alongside Sussex academics and spend eight weeks on campus. This year, we welcomed 13 students from 7 different countries in Asia, Europe and America.

We interviewed three of the students to find out what made their time at Sussex special:

Julia, Zhicheng and Adam all came to Sussex having never lived abroad before. They were motivated to challenge themselves, experience a new culture and grow as researchers and individuals.

In our interview, Julia reflected on first hearing about the scheme. For her, the IJRA programme offered an introduction to the academic world which she hopes to join in the future:

“The moment I got an email from my university about the scheme, I thought that it's my ticket into the academic world.”

During their time on campus, the IJRA students developed new skills and learned how to navigate research challenges. Something that stuck with them was the value of being encouraged to ask questions and think critically, rather than only focusing on getting results and following instructions.

“This critical approach I experienced at Sussex is something I want to carry forward,” says Zhicheng.

All IJRA students were guided by Sussex supervisors and worked closely with research teams. In addition to their project work, they also attended regular training sessions alongside Sussex-based Junior Research Associate students. Julia, Zhicheng and Adam report that this approach helped them develop confidence, tackle challenges and better understand how academic research is conducted in practice.

Outside the lab or the library, the students explored Sussex and the UK both through independent travel and organised summer school trips.

For Zhicheng, a visit to London, and particularly the Natural History Museum, was a highlight, while Julia was most impressed by Arundel Castle and its gardens. Adam found the basketball matches on Brighton seafront particularly memorable. They all regularly visited Brighton and enjoyed its lively, welcoming and creative atmosphere.

The international group quickly formed friendships as they spent time together in shared accommodation and explored the city. As Adam sums it up:

“The programme showed me that working and living abroad is possible and that people are welcoming.”

As they return home, all three students want to build on their experience, with plans ranging from participating in conferences and working on publications to pursuing a postgraduate degree abroad, potentially returning to Sussex for the next step in their academic journey.

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