Between Tradition and Modernity: Semester Abroad in Belgium
Nina Furxer decided to spend her semester abroad in the midst of Belgium’s vibrant diversity, where cultures meet and the world merges on a small scale. As a fourth-semester student in the International Business Studies program at FH Kufstein Tirol, she is immersing herself in the heart of Europe from September 2023 until July 2024. Her degree program involves spending a year at one of the 225 partner universities. With its central location, the Vives University of Applied Sciences in Kortrijk is a melting pot of internationality. People from different countries meet here, both within and outside Europe. And yet, despite the cultural diversity, the similarities are stronger than the differences.
Everyday life and leisure
“The highlights for me include the many city trips that I can explore together with fellow students,” enthuses Nina. “Thanks to the central location, trips to Paris or Edinburgh are always possible.” A day at the university often only includes one or two courses, but they last several hours. “We usually have small tasks to complete or prepare group work.” The English language and independent action and organization have helped Nina a lot. “My partner university tends to be quite late in sending out documents and deadlines, which made organization before and during the semester abroad very difficult. On the other hand, this encourages spontaneity and flexibility.” Another thing Nina likes is the freedom to choose her courses, as this allows her to deepen her interests.
Conclusion
“I chose a residence hall as my accommodation,” reported Nina. “Only Erasmus students are accommodated here, which makes it easier to exchange ideas and make contacts with each other.” Residence halls are a good choice for accommodation. An ideal opportunity to make contacts and get into conversation more easily. Nina recommends the partner university but points out that the courses are only published at the beginning of the semester, which makes planning a little difficult. “I can advise everyone to decide on the country first and then on a partner university,” the student recommends.
