Green travel ambassadors encourage green student exchange

Claudia Krohn, a geography student and research assistant in the MUST project and student ambassador for green travel, is interested in environmental issues and a slow living lifestyle that encourages people to live everyday life at a more peaceful pace as a counterbalance to the rapid pace of consumer society.

“When I heard about the Student Ambassador programme, where I could share my previous experiences of green travel and inspire others to choose more sustainable ways of travelling, I decided to apply. I want to show that green travel is easier than thought when it is well planned and an enriching way to travel," says Krohn.

Emmi, a social work student and project researcher in the VaRa project, decided to apply to become an ambassador when she noticed that the application was open.

"I already knew at that point that I would travel to my exchange destination observing the principles of green travel, so I immediately decided to apply. For me, the main reason for green travel is climate change. I used to fly a lot, but now I primarily try to travel to my destination by land. I prefer travelling this way – I feel that I get more out of the trip,” Emmi says.

Claudia Krohn says she has always been interested in concrete environmental actions that challenge conventional practices. She points out that environmental actions benefit us also because they require us to slow down from the rush of everyday life.

"Throughout history, people have travelled by land. The slow rhythm offers an opportunity to break away from the rush and calmly reflect on the thoughts that arise during the trip, while the cultural landscape behind the window slowly changes. And it should also be mentioned that travelling by land is much less stressful if you have a fear of flying," says Krohn. 

Many destinations along the way 

Both recommend those going on student exchange and planning an exchange to try green travel. 

"Green travel can also be tried with a lower threshold, for example, by travelling only in one direction in a green way. Erasmus exchange students can also receive additional financial support for green travel,” Emmi encourages. 

For the academic year, the ambassadors received Erasmus+ Interrail Passes developed by EURail and the Erasmus Student Network. EURail and the Erasmus Student Network offered the higher education institutions in the Coimbra Group the opportunity to donate two Interrail passes to students in exchange for promoting green travel.   

Emmi took advantage of the ticket during her short exchange in Stralsund, Germany.  

“I participated in a two-week SustainMV summer university course. I took advantage of the rail ticket on the outward and return trips to Stralsund. I travelled in total for a month, and on the outward and return journeys I stopped in different parts of Europe to meet friends and see new places. Through previous student exchange and trips abroad, I have made many friends that I still meet regularly, even though we live in different countries.” 

Krohn plans to use the ticket on her student exchange trip to Sheffield, England, in January.  

“My journey starts with a boat trip from Turku to Stockholm. From there I continue by train all the way to Hamburg in Germany and on to Paris. I stop there for a day to meet a friend I met through green travel on the Camino de Santiago hiking trail in Spain a few years ago. After that, I will take the train via London to Sheffield. The trip from Turku to Sheffield could be completed in less than three days, but I have booked six days for the trip to enjoy the journey.” 

Thank you, ambassadors, for sharing your thoughts and travel plans!  

The content of the Green Travel Student Ambassadors related to green travel can be followed on the University's Instagram account called UTUVaihdossa maintained by the University's International Office. In addition, they will give a presentation on green travel at the departure orientation of outgoing exchange students during the current academic year.