3 / 2000
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ColumnAll an exchange student needs
Johanna Kärki
A room, library and a lecture hall. Is this really all an exchange student needs?
Each year we here in Turku get ready to receive exchange students from all over the world. Most of these students are from European countries. When they come here we, the Student Union of Turku University together with our university, organise an orientation course, a welcome party, a cottage weekend and personal tutors for them. In addition to all this, we have a starter pack reserve from which the exchange students can borrow such essentials as a mattress, blanket and some kitchen ware. We do our best to make the students feel welcome and help them to adapt to Finnish student life and culture.
Each year we get more students who want to come to Finland and study in our university. We try to do a very good job in coping with all these students. Sometimes it is a bit hard, after all we have no more money, people or other resources than what we did some years ago and still we have to, and want to, give them the best possible services. The students who come here to Finland are taken care of in the best way we can. But what about the Finnish students who go abroad? How can we be sure they have an apartment, someone to help them adapt, or help them in academic matters?
Already in many universities around Europe there is some kind of help, activities and organisations for the exchange students. These are usually universities that have an ESN (Erasmus Student Network) section. There are ESN sections all over Europe and they work to make the life of exchange students easier and happier in foreign countries. We are happy to send our students to countries and universities where we can be sure they will have someone to turn to. Unfortunately, this is not always possible. Often there is someone to help the exchange students in academic matters. This is usually not a problem. But what about the social aspects of life? Where do you meet people, get to know local students or get help if you want to see, experience and travel around the country you have gone to. Social integration into the local life is one of the goals of the ESN.
I am familiar with the situation in Finland, and in some other universities around Europe. But what would be an appropriate forum to find out about other universities and student organisations? In just a couple of weeks I am going to meet students from all over Europe in Slovenia at the Annual General Meeting of the ESN. I know the ESN sections are doing their best in their respective universities. But what about those universities that do not have one?
Increasing numbers of our students want to study abroad and they know that, while it will be a great year in their lives, it will also be a time when they will have to face many problems. Would it not be beneficial to all, if exchange students could be sure that there will be an organisation of some kind that will be ready to help them. After all, a university that has an organisation for helping exchange students, be it ESN or some other, is more attractive to students.
The students that come to the University of Turku can count on being well taken care of. There is always someone at the Student Union they can turn to if they need help in practical or social matters or perhaps just want to organise a trip with their friends. We are always there for them and this is what they tell their friends back home. Perhaps this is one of the reasons why more and more students come to our university each year.
The writer is a member of the Student Union Executive Board responsible for International Affairs.
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