New Our new corporate identity
Even in times of corona, our students didn't let themselves be deterred and dared to embark on the adventure of a semester abroad. Anisa, a student on the Bachelor's degree programme in International Business Relations, emphasises that you have to be more creative during a pandemic. She is spending her semester abroad in the city of love - Paris:
I'm well aware that my Erasmus semester would have been very different if I hadn't spent it in the middle of a pandemic, but I still met a lot of great new people. You just have to be more creative. Instead of sitting in a restaurant, you just do takeaways and sit under the Eiffel Tower and get to know each other there.
Anisa Abraham, student in the Bachelor International Business Relations programme
There were always information events. I went to almost every one. Any concerns I had were cleared up and every question was answered in such detail that there was no reason not to do the semester abroad. And even during COVID-19, I was supported by FH Burgenland, for example by the International Office.
I was really lucky when it came to finding accommodation. Many Airbnb flats that were looking for long-term tenants were empty and I quickly found a flat at a favourable price.
Many partner universities of the FH Burgenland appealed to me, but the website and the course structure spoke in favour of ESCE Paris.
We had a hybrid system. Two weeks a month we had face-to-face teaching, two weeks online teaching. That was also a great way to get to know new people. I made a lot of new friends. Many of them became close friends.
Unfortunately not, I know Paris inside out like the back of my hand, but it was a great wish to travel to the south of France. But as it's my last semester, I want to concentrate on the exams and studying for the Bachelor's exam, which is right after the end of the semester in France and after my move, has priority at the moment.
It was the people who made my time in Paris special for me. From the baker who smiled at my accent at the beginning, the fruit seller who accompanied me half the way because he couldn't explain the route to me any other way, or my new friends who always made me laugh.
Definitely! Not only do you get to know a new culture and new people, but you also gain experiences here that I would never have had otherwise.
Other reasons are of course: macarons, éclairs, religeuse and pan au chocolats ;-)
From the imposing Louvre, the L'Arc de Triomphe, delicious macarons and the Eiffel Tower, she travelled to idyllic Switzerland. Surrounded by magnificent mountains, Therese Kacsics is having a great time and is spending her semester abroad in Switzerland in the fourth semester of her Bachelor's degree programme in Information, Media & Communication. Was Switzerland her first choice? No - she says - let alone the town of Chur. But why was it the best decision for her? Read for yourself:
If someone had asked me a year ago where I would like to spend my semester abroad, Switzerland would never have crossed my mind, and I didn't even know that Chur existed. My inclination was more towards Cyprus or Sweden. But when I was researching partner universities, I came across the UAS Graubünden and thought to myself, why not, after all, I've never been to Switzerland before. As I had always wanted to live in the middle of the mountains, this was the perfect opportunity.
Therese Kacsics, Bachelor Information, Media & Communication student
After I sent my documents to the partner university and was accepted in December, everything happened very quickly. A little too quickly. But with the support of the International Office at the partner university, I was able to register for the student residence without any complications. To be honest, it was too stressful for me to look for a room in a shared flat and in retrospect I'm very happy with my decision, because from here you have the best view of the city and the sunset. You can't complain about the facilities either. We have our own cinema, a gym, several common rooms and a huge trampoline on the terrace. The partner university gave me all the information I needed to start the new semester. Luckily, there was no quarantine obligation when I arrived, so I was able to travel by train in comfort.
My stay isn't over yet and I still have two weeks to go, which I have planned just for travelling. So far, I can say that it was a time I wouldn't have wanted to miss. Despite the pandemic, I've really enjoyed the last few months and gained new experiences. One big advantage was that I lived here in the middle of nature and had practically all the excursion destinations on my doorstep. Even without a car, you can get to remote places here by bus, train or cable car.
I attended courses from two different degree programmes: Multimedia Production and Information Science. With a few exceptions, the lectures were all online, which of course wasn't so easy at the beginning as I didn't know anyone yet, but it was also a small advantage for me as I could easily look up missed lectures due to overlaps. I felt well received right from the start and got to know many students personally through group work. We were a great community in the student residence and went on several excursions together. The Erasmus Student Network in Chur was particularly helpful, always surprising us with little gifts. Whether it was a typical recipe from the region or an Easter basket. After the easing of coronavirus restrictions, they organised joint excursions and meetings.
I will only go on a big exploration tour after the exam phase and work through my bucket list. At weekends, I mostly enjoyed my free time out exploring, where I mainly travelled along hiking trails.
Swiss German is a language in itself. I realised this on the very first day when I wanted to ask someone for directions and didn't understand a word. A special moment that I will never forget was arriving in Chur. When I got off the train at the station, saw the mountains around me and realised that this wonderful place would now be my home for the next few months.
I think it's completely normal to have bad days from time to time. But after every low point, things always go up again.
Absolutely! It was clear to me even before I started my degree that I wanted to do a semester abroad, and I would do it again and again. Just living together with people from different countries and the friendships that result are worth it.
Have the courage and take the plunge! Even though the situation during Corona can be uncertain and intimidating, it won't stop you from having a great time and meeting new people. You will be well looked after by the Erasmus team at the partner university and will be able to make friends straight away.
Thank you for the insights, dear Therese. "Go for it" was also the motto of our student Lena. Our student Lena Rodax travelled to the cold and to a true paradise for (not only) reindeer. She is in her fourth semester, also studying for a Bachelor's degree in Information, Media & Communication, and is currently spending her semester abroad in Finland. Although she is - as she says herself - more of a summer person, for some inexplicable reason she was drawn to snowy Finland. Find out what she experienced here:
Although I actually love summer and can't stand the cold, there was something about Helsinki that fascinated me. I felt somehow drawn there and the living conditions also made me curious, because you always hear that Finland is the happiest country in the world. Can I confirm that? I don't know. All the Finns you talk to about it react with astonishment, because they can't quite explain it.
Lena Rodax, Bachelor of Information, Media & Communication student
Haaga-Helia AUS was already an existing partner university of the FH Burgenland, which made the process much easier, especially in Corona times when you already had a more limited choice. Planning the courses, accommodation etc. was probably the most stressful part and I don't want to sugarcoat it, because that's the reality, you're not spared this work. But in the end everything turned out well.
Finding accommodation was very easy, as the partner university provided all the necessary information and I now live in the HOAS flats, which are organised according to the shared flat principle.
My stay was very impressive despite corona, because Finland was one of the safest countries during the corona pandemic and apart from distance learning and some restrictions, I didn't notice any difference before/during corona. There was a lockdown for a while, when restaurants and bars were closed - just like here. However, this was lifted after a month and from mid-April the restaurants and bars were open again with limited opening hours. Unfortunately, museums and theatres were closed, but apart from that, you really can't complain, because travel within Finland was also possible and so I was also very far north in Oulu and a little more central in Tampere. Unfortunately, the trips to Norway and Lapland were cancelled due to coronavirus.
The courses were sometimes very nerve-wracking, as I was sometimes very overwhelmed by the strong IT focus. Most of the lecturers at Haaga-Helia are very competent and pleasant to work with, so even the more unpleasant IT lectures got better. Despite initial doubts, the Customer Relationship Management lecture became my favourite lecture of the semester.
I didn't get to know much about the regular students, as - as I said - all lectures were online and I was only in contact with them in group work. In contrast, I had more contact with other exchange students and also made real new friends, which I will continue to cultivate in the future.
As I mentioned above, I travelled to Oulu and Tampere outside Helsinki. In the following months I also went to Turku and Porvoo, but unfortunately the trips to Lapland and Norway were cancelled, but there is always the chance to come back.
Outside of my studies, I spent a lot of time with friends and when the weather got nicer, we always met up outside either in Lauttasaari, where there is a beach for picnics, or just grabbed a coffee and sat on the steps of the cathedral and enjoyed the sunshine.
The student fraternities, which are very common here in Finland, are definitely a highlight. They always organise very entertaining events and at the end you always get patches that you can sew on your clothes etc. and thus receive a "badge" for participating.
Another highlight was "Vappu". This is the 1st of May, i.e. the beginning of spring/workers' day, which is celebrated in a big way here in Finland. All age groups, but mainly students, come together to celebrate. That was definitely something you have to experience here in Finland.
In general, however, it was simply impressive to get to know a new culture and way of life and to be able to immerse myself in everyday life in Finland and discover the non-touristy side of Finland.
Definitely! Alone in a new country where you don't know anyone and don't have anyone with you in lectures to ask for help when you feel lost is scary. However, it's just a challenge that you have to overcome, because that's one of the reasons why I decided to do a semester abroad, just jumping into the unknown, into the deep end, something unforgettable is bound to come out of it!
100% definitely! I can only recommend it to anyone, the experience is unforgettable, you make friends for life and learn so much about yourself and the memories last forever! Even if it seems overwhelming at first, all the organisation, planning etc. just keep at it, it's definitely worth it!
During my time in Finland, I also started my YouTube channel to record the experience of the exchange and my life here in Finland in general. You can watch it if you want to know more about my life and see videos about it. Channel name: Lena Rodax
#ErasmusDays at FH Burgenland: Looking beyond national borders & broadening horizons
#goodbyeEisenstadt - More than just spicing up your CV
#goodbyeEisenstadt - Internships abroad in Amsterdam and Brisbane
#goodbyeEisenstadt - My semester abroad in Cyprus
# Gepostet in:
Einblicke von Studierenden,
Auslandsaufenthalte
