INTERNATIONAL VIBES

Sørbø encourages students to go abroad, and international students to come to Volda.

─ We can offer courses in English, and courses in Norwegian language. We are also widening the range of courses that are taught in English to include Media subjects and others. It’s expensive to live in Norway, but it’s free to study here. The students enjoy the smallness of Volda, the close student environment and the close link to the teachers, Sørbø said. 

 
International Coordinator Cecilie Wilhelmsen. Photo: Jose Eduardo Garcia Aldama Pepe

GRAB THE OPPURTUNITY

International Coordinator at Volda University College, Cecilie Wilhelmsen, informed that last year Volda welcomed 120 international students, and sent 175 students into the world.

─ I encourage you to grab the opportunity. Take a semester abroad, and you will never regret it. If you don’t have the opportunity, visit Pangaia and the International club and get to know all the international students, Wilhelmsen said.  

It’s Wilhelmsen’s last time organizing the International Day, after doing a great job making Volda known in Europe and the world at large.

─ I’m taking an early retirement to enjoy life and travel more, Wilhelmsen said with a smile. 

 
Main speaker Rina Sunder. Photo: Jose Eduardo Garcia Aldama Pepe

INDIA IS CHANGING

Main speaker Indian-Norwegian Rina Sunder focused on the need for us to understand the changes going on in India.

─ India has been shaping the world, and will continue to do so in the future. We are now talking about a new and modern India. It is a land of opportunities, especially for young people. It is said that demographic is destiny. We have 700 million people under the age of 30 in India. This is a competitive advantage over countries like China that will face a challenge with a large elderly population, Sunder said.

India is a superpower in Asia, and aiming to be one in Europe.

─ The rules of the game is changing internationally, both politically and economically. India is now number two on the list of markets international companies want to enter, only behind China. The British left the language in India, and it is in fact the largest English speaking population. This makes it easy to communicate with Indians, and they adapt well to other cultures, Sunder said.

Sunder argues that it is a challenge for Europe that Indians and Chinese go to England, the United States and other countries to study, but Europeans don’t go to the other way around in the same extent.

 
Students at Volda University college, Ole-Gunnar Palmer Morewood and Sigrid Lunde.

─ JUST DO IT

Sigrid Lunde and Ole-Gunnar Palmer Morewood are both on their second year in their social work studies. When they had the opportunity to study abroad they did not hesitate. They chose to go to Champlain University in Vermont in the United States, and they are now back to represent the school.

─ Since I was in secondary school I knew I wanted to take a semester abroad. I wanted to go somewhere that I could use as a base to travel around, and Champlain situated north of New York was then a good choice. Hawaii was also an option, but with the beach outside my window it would be hard to focus on studies, Morewood said.

Lunde does not regret taking the chance of studying abroad, and not her choice of Champlain University either.

─ It was scary to travel by myself, but I was so well received when I got there that it was no problem. I improved my language skills and got a lot of new experiences, Lunde said.

Her encouragement to students at Volda University College is clear:

─ Don’t think about it, just do it. It’s definitely worth it!

Read about your possibilities of studying at Volda University College