Ruki Jayasuriya

Experience

Tell us what your greatest academic, professional or personal awards/achievements have been.

One of my greatest achievements was the establishment of a student initiative at my home university, which is committed to supporting students' careers. As a team, we have formed strong partnerships with renowned companies to provide the students with the best training for their chosen profession. After one year of foundation, we are one of the largest student initiatives in Germany with more than 200 members and still growing.

Why did you decide to study your Summer School course and why specifically did you choose to study with Imperial College Business School?

Since I am interested in entrepreneurship, it was clear to me that I would take a course on this subject. The decision for Imperial College Business School was very easy because of its location in London and the excellent reputation of the Business School in the field of entrepreneurship.

Programme

What makes your Summer School unique?

Saudi Arabia, Greece, Singapore, Taiwan, Australia. This is only a small list of the origins of the students in my class. I have rarely been able to study in such a multicultural environment, and that makes my Summer School class unique. Furthermore, when it comes to entrepreneurship, there is simply no better university other than Imperial to teach you.

What aspects of the course did you most enjoy?

I really enjoyed attending Dr Harveen Chugh’s lectures. She managed to combine theory and practice very well and taught us to look beyond our own horizons. Another highlight was visiting a startup, where we got to know the founder, who told us what really matters in building a startup.

What was the most challenging part of the course? 

The biggest challenge was to have time for juggling our social lives in addition to the lectures, group work and preparations for the business pitch. Everyone in our class was determined to make the most of the course and the opportunity to live in London, so that’s what we did.

People

Imperial places a large emphasis on group work, what inspires you the most about working in this type of environment?

Group work presents a challenge, especially when the groups are made up of people from different countries. I found it a great experience because group work also enhances cooperation among students and develops students’ interpersonal skills. But more importantly, these people became my friends.

How would you describe your Summer School class?

I would describe my Summer School class as multicultural, fun and educational.

What parts of the social programme did you most enjoy?

The boat party was my favourite social event. I was able to make new friends from other courses from the Summer School and most importantly, the views of the city by night from the boat was amazing.

Opportunities

What has been the greatest opportunity during your summer at Imperial that you don’t think you would get anywhere else?

The greatest opportunity I received at Imperial that I don’t think I would get anywhere else was the high quality of lectures, the people I have met and the overall experience.

What are your future career goals and how do you think your time at Imperial will help/has helped?

My future career goals are to finish my thesis and then start my own fintech business with the great insights I gained from the Summer School.

Location

Whereabouts did you stay in London and why did you choose to stay there?

I lived close to Gloucester Road, which was only a few minutes’ walks from the Business School. I would recommend staying close to make your commute easy at peak times.

What can a weekend in London look like for a Summer School student?

A weekend in London will be full of museums, visits to Shoreditch, Camden and Canary Wharf. Also, discovering the busy nightlife of London.

In your opinion, tell us about the most exciting thing you’ve done in London.

One of the most exciting things I have done in London is visiting the Dior Exhibition at the V&A Museum and eating in China Town.

Tips

What advice would you give someone who was thinking about applying for the Summer School?

Do it! It’s a superb Business School with great lecturers and amazing comrades. The Summer School is the place to be to enhance your studies.

Share with us a handy hint or trick that made settling into Summer School that much easier! 

Be open to meeting new people, learn from other cultures and see everything as an opportunity to expand your horizon.