“It’s really an amazing experience” – Mid Sweden University welcomes first exchange students from ChallengeEU
This autumn, four engineering students from Lyon arrived in Östersund for a semester of studies, outdoor life and new cultural experiences. They are the first exchange students joining from the ChallengeEU partnership, choosing to focus on studies in mechanical engineering and additive manufacturing.
– This was the first year it was possible to come here. We wanted to try a new collaboration and compared to other partnerships, coming to Östersund meant living in a smaller city and being closer to sports and nature. Since we study in a big city in France, we wanted something different, the students explain.
At their engineering programme in France, students follow a common curriculum and then add specialised courses such as materials, energy, future factories or computer engineering. Spending a semester abroad allows students Corentin Lambert, Victor Straga, Julien Maguer and Tom Bussiere to experience a new academic culture before returning to their home university ECAM LaSalle again in January.
Sports, nature and new experiences
Sports played a major role in their decision to study in Östersund.
– I already knew Östersund from biathlon, when I saw the partnership, I knew right away where it was. Many exchange students also volunteer during the Biathlon World Cup, which means we get to watch the competitions up close, Tom Bussiere says.
Living close to sports facilities has also made everyday life convenient and more active.
– We live next to the camping, and right nearby we have the pool and the gym. It’s great to have everything so close, says Corentin Lambert and Victor Straga.
A different academic system
One of the biggest surprises has been the difference between Swedish and French academic structures.
– In France we have classes from 8.00 to 18.00 every day, they explain.
– Here we have fewer scheduled hours but many projects, so you need to be more autonomous. In the beginning it was surprising, but now we really appreciate it. We can organise our days more freely.
They also highlight the close interaction with teachers.
– In France, a lecture can have 200 students. Here the groups are smaller, and you can ask questions and even do activities together. It feels much more personal.
Here we learn to write reports and articles with proper methodology. It feels very professional and will help us in our future careers.
The content of the courses has also been valuable, especially project-based learning.
– Here we learn to write reports and articles with proper methodology. It feels very professional and will help us in our future careers. In France we mostly have exams with questions, but here it’s more about real projects. Here, many teachers are also researchers. It’s very different and inspiring.
The exchange is also viewed positively by the teachers.
– It is fantastic to see how quickly the students have embraced the project-based way of working here. Through ChallengeEU, we have the opportunity to meet students with new perspectives and experiences, and their curiosity and engagement enrich both our teaching and our learning environment. I truly look forward to welcoming more students from ECAM LaSalle and the other ChallengeEU universities in the coming years, says Lars-Erik Rännar, teacher and researcher at Mid Sweden University.
Advice for future exchange students
– We would really recommend coming to Östersund, especially if you like snow, nature and a calm study environment.
The students describe the semester as both rewarding and transformative.
– You develop a lot, not only academically but also in terms of autonomy and soft skills. The environment, the university, the city, and the nature around Östersund are amazing says Julien Maguer.
– We will tell our classmates that we had a great time here. It’s different from France, maybe surprising at first, but incredibly enriching. It’s really an amazing experience.