WUNU student about the exchange at Inholland University of Applied Sciences
Students of the Department of International Economic Relations of the B. Havrylyshyn ERIIR have a unique opportunity to study at Inholland University of Applied Sciences, Kingdom of the Netherlands. This semester, 12 students of the department are participating in the exchange. Andriana Bozhahora, a student of the MENM-41 group, shares her impressions of her studies:
"This year, I took part in the competitive selection for a semester study at Inholland University of Applied Sciences (the Netherlands) under the Erasmus+ programme and got the opportunity to study there.
My studies take place in Alkmaar, a city in North Netherlands. When I first heard about this city, I did not expect that it would be so interesting. During the spring-autumn period, tourists from all over the world come here for the Cheese Fair, which takes place every Friday at noon. The infrastructure of public transport is very well developed, but the most popular form of transport among the Dutch is the bicycle. As for the location of the city, you can get to Amsterdam in 40 minutes by train, and to the sea in 30 minutes by bike.
It is worth noting that almost every week in Alkmaar different events are held. I managed to visit: the exhibition of Living Sculptures, the Ontzet holiday, the Light Festival, the Wonderland fair, football matches, the arrival of Sinterklaas. The architecture of the Netherlands is very impressive and kind of transports you to another dimension. Just imagine, neat two-story houses, which are similar to each other on the facade, but at the time are so different in economic style, surrounded by green trees, bushes, and of course, the canals that stretch along the streets, covered with cobblestones.
I am happy with the level and quality of education provided by the Inholland. The university has a friendly atmosphere. The people of the Netherlands are friendly and open, and most importantly, almost everyone speaks English. The difference is that teachers are addressed by name, there is no pronounced hierarchical structure not only in the university, but also in society in general. Teachers appear primarily as professionals who share their experience and help students become the best version of themselves.
The classes are more interactive: a problem question, a heuristic conversation, an invitation to a guest lecturer, TEDTalk, various didactic games. There was even an exam experience as a client consultation and an interview exam with a company representative of the chosen industry.
I've met people from Spain, Morocco, France, Turkey in the Erasmus community. It is exciting to study with other international students and local Dutch students; it allows for a better adaptation in a multicultural environment. In most classes, it was required to work in a pair/group with a multinational composition for a deeper understanding of the peculiarities of different cultures.
The university also organizes many events. Before the study, Orientation Days were held: first, we familiarized ourselves with the university, learned information about courses, teachers, living in the Netherlands, and student assistance centers. Afterwards we had a tour of the BroekerVeiling museum, after which we tasted traditional Dutch food. After two months of study, PubQuiz, BoulesBorrelBites evening, BeerPong were held for international students.
In conclusion, I would like to note that the Netherlands is a country with incredible landscapes and a multifaceted culture. Participation in international programmes is a great opportunity to gain new, unparalleled experience, both professionally and in the context of new acquaintances, communication and improving the level of foreign language skills.
I sincerely thank the Department of International Economic Relations of B. Havrylyshyn Education and Research Institute of International Relations for such wonderful opportunities!"
