Great turnout for International Day
The International Day 2016 found a popular main guest in Leo Ajkic, the famous TV-personality known from programmes such as Leos Reise (Leo’s travels). He got the audience laughing from the first moment and kept the audience’s glued to their seats throughout his funny analysis of what’s typical Norwegian behavior. Leo followed up with stories from his many travels around the world and his thoughts about the value of experiencing other cultures.
Leo Ajkic under his speech.
Pro-rector Jens Standal Groven held the opening speech for the International Day and encouraged students to go abroad and to learn and experience something else than their usual surroundings.
– Our goal is to inform everyone about all the possibilities we can offer for spending time in a different culture, to study abroad and/or to get work experience in another country, said Standal Groven in his speech.
Volda University College has more than 100 exchange and study abroad agreements with partner universities in more than 40 countries. At the International Day staff/faculty from 13 of the partner universities were present, in addition to VUC students and international students who presented many of the other partner institutions abroad. Malwina Witkowska comes from VUC’s partner university in Warszawa.
– I came here to study Norwegian. I heard that Volda has the best student environment in Norway and I absolutely do not regret coming here. The nature is so different than in Warszawa, just amazing, says Malwina.
Malwina Witkowska (in the middle) from Warszawa is studying in norwegian in Volda.
See more pictures from International Day here.
Silje Helene Vågen will complete her Bachelor’s degree in Social Work this spring. She has already had two periods abroad during her studies in Volda. In the 3rd semester, she was a study abroad student at Champlain College in Vermont (USA) and in the 5th semester she completed a trainee period in Tanzania.
– My stay in Vermont gave me the possibility to experience a different type of educational system. We had other types of courses than we have here in Norway, and I learned a lot from them. The linkage between theory and practice was also clearer in the US education system, something that I personally enjoyed, says Vågen.
Vågen was among the first VUC students to do a trainee period in Tanzania. She doesn’t regret it.
Silje Helene Vågen has been in both USA and Tanzania during her studies in Volda.
– I wanted to work with substance abuse in an African context. To do so, I had to adapt to the local culture, but that happened rather quickly. I learnt a lot from my time there.
-What do you say to the students who asks for your advice today?
– I am telling them everything, not just the sunshine stories, that would be wrong. I’ve told them nice stories but also the negative ones. But I always end with saying that I would go back again on a heartbeat if I had the chance.
Arne Humberset, Head of the VUC International Office, likes what he’s seen and heard today. He greatly appreciated the massive turnout for the event.
-It is so fun to see all the students, both local and international, who wanted to take part in this even. Volda University College has strong traditions for international activities, and it is gratifying to work in this field when we see the interest and enthusiasm in the crowds today, says Humberset.
Arne Humberset, Head of the VUC International Office.
VUC welcomed international guests from many partner universities for this event and they have been an important part in creating the enthusiastic atmosphere at the International Day.
-Our guests have been very impressed with what we have been able to achieve here at VUC. The whole event received a lot of praise, says Humberset.