MILAN, WORLD CITY
MEET LEYLA, A PERUVIAN STUDENT
28 july 2015
"Milan is a very lively city, culturally speaking, with a rich calendar of events, and not just at Expo time. I love visiting museums and going to concerts and artistic events of all kinds. Since March, I’ve also been an Expoincittà blogger, for the Spanish section of course".
Leyla’s eyes light up when she talks about student life in Milan.
The Milano ID Card gives me various concessions, including free entry to the Science and Technology Museum and the Triennale. I especially love the Triennale and never miss the opening of a new exhibition
Leyla Menchola comes from Peru and is studying for a Laurea Magistrale (Master of Science) in Design & Engineering at the Politecnico. "I’m very proud of my Peruvian nationality and very happy to be doing a Laurea Magistrale in Milan", she writes in her blog profile.
Last week, she was at the signing of the memorandum of understanding between Milan’s thirteen universities and colleges, Milan City Council and the Milan Chamber of Commerce, intended to increase the attractiveness of the entire metropolitan area to international students. The agreement aims to simplify access to services for the 19,592 university students from abroad, most of whom (14,422) are in the city for an entire degree course while the remaining 5,170 are in Milan on mobility programmes. The key to accessing the benefits provided by the agreement is the Milano ID Card, which gives students, including those on PhD courses, not only special cultural offers but also help and assistance with bureaucratic procedures, discounts on transport, support in finding accommodation, a journey in discovery of the Lombardy region using a free Trenord rail company ticket, and much more.
"When I completed my enrolment with the Politecnico, I immediately received an email inviting me to active the Card, which I found ready and waiting when I arrived in Milan. I encountered my greatest difficulties before coming here and was unsure which documents I would have to present and which steps to take. Luckily, I had help from some friends who had spent time in Italy before", Leyla tells us.
"Once I was in Milan, though, thanks to the Card, I immediately received my Codice Fiscale (Italian tax code) and was therefore able to get my Permesso di Soggiorno (permit to stay) and Tessera Sanitaria (health card), open a bank account, and so on…".
"I’ve already used my free rail ticket to visit a city in Lombardy (I chose Como). I haven’t been to Expo yet, but I’ll be going soon".
In her studies at the Politecnico, Leyla very much enjoys the international flavour of her course, which is taught entirely in English:
My course mates come from all over the world, and each of them has a different approach to design in terms of aesthetics, technology and culture. I think this brings real added value and enrichment for everyone.
"Personally speaking, in Peru I learned to consider the social aspect that underpins the manufacture of a design product, in the United States, where I spent a semester in 2009, I came into contact with the most innovative technologies in existence, and, in Italy, I’ve discovered the secrets of Open Source. All extremely important aspects which have helped to complete my education".
I think it’s really important for students in general to travel and experience study abroad because it helps them to broaden their horizons and compare different points of view, and enables them to deal with almost any working situation
When asked if she would recommend studying in Milan to a friend, Leyla answers, "Yes, absolutely. And I definitely recommend the Politecnico".
http://www.studyinmilan.net/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/leylamenchola
http://blog.expoincitta.com/tag.aspx?tag=5819