Zak Blacher - Student Exchange Alumni

Computer Science student Zak Blacher spent one year on a one-year student exchange, offered through the University of Windsor, to Sweden. Zak attended Karlstad Universitet where he took computer science courses towards his B.Sc. Honours with Networking & Security degree while at Karlstad. Courses were taught in English or Swedish. In fact, one of his professors covered material in multiple languages, including Spanish, in order to accommodate the diverse cultures of the students that attended his class.

What Zak appreciated most was gaining a new level of independence and making friends from all over the world. Most challenging for him was adjusting to Sweden’s nightless summer days and dayless winter nights. After successfully completing two semesters at Karstad, Zak managed to slip in some extracurricular time to see Western Europe before returning to Windsor at the end of August.

All in all, the student exchange was a great and personally enriching experience for Zak. He highly recommends the exchange experience and encourages students to take advantage of it, especially for their 3rd year, when most courses taken will count towards equivalent credit at the University of Windsor.

"If I could go again, I would," says Zak. "It was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life."

In Windsor, Zak is very involved in the School where he has represented students on Computer Science Council, offers tutoring to CS students, and has volunteered for many recruitment activities over the years. Zak graduated in April 2011 and he is an excellent ambassador to the School of Computer Science.

Click here for further information about the Student Exchange Program.