GCU welcomes Swedish students as part of new partnership
Two Swedish students have been getting an insight into life at GCU through a new exchange partnership.
Umeå Universitet and GCU joined forces to allow two final-year physiotherapy students from each institution to sample a different learning environment.
Two GCU physiotherapy students will head to Eastern Sweden in January and follow in the footsteps of students Kaspian Levalahti and Matilda Vallström, who are currently experiencing life in Scotland.
Kaspian and Matilda have been working on their final year project during their eight weeks at GCU, while also sampling everything Glasgow and Scotland has to offer.
We caught up with them both to find out more:
How did you hear about this opportunity to travel to Scotland?
Matilda: “Every semester we get a student call where they tell us about the different opportunities available within our programme, and a little bit about what we can do to try and secure one of these opportunities.
“The person who is responsible for our Honours Project back home in Sweden is the one who specifically co-ordinated this project. We’re the first two students to visit GCU and there are two students here who will visit our university in Sweden in January. They actually showed us around campus when we first arrived, so it was nice to meet them.”
What appealed to you about coming to Scotland?
Kaspian: “I had always wanted to do some sort of exchange and I was interested in the UK as a whole. I wanted to see Scotland, especially the Highlands.
“My big interest in the UK comes from my love of football – I’m a big fan. I also like UK YouTube and television, so that interest has always been there because I’ve watched for a long time.”
Matilda: “This is a new exchange and really caught my attention because I knew I wanted to experience a new country at some point.
“I really like nature and hiking. There are definitely great opportunities to do that around here, which I’ve really liked. It’s really easy with the buses and it’s very cheap to go to different places.”
What have you thought about your time at GCU so far?
Matilda: “We were allowed to join lectures but our time is very limited because we have to work on our Honours Project. We went to a musculoskeletal practical class, which was really nice.
“I would say the structure of the classes is very similar to what we’re used to. You go through some things and then get the chance to try practical work.”
Kaspian: “One of the best things I’ve found is that the campus is so easy to access. I get the train to Queen Street Station and it’s only a short walk.”
Has Glasgow impressed you as a city?
Kaspian: “It’s a big city – much bigger than I thought! I feel like there is so much to explore here. I haven’t been that far out of the centre yet, but I’ve had the chance to go on the underground and it’s very tiny. I live in the West End and really like it.”
Matilda: “Glasgow is very big and I like the fact there are so many pretty buildings. Where I live is close to the city centre but it’s a bit quieter, which I really like. I’m not really a city-person but I do really like Glasgow.
“The people are very nice – I would describe everyone I’ve met as friendly. Most people in the Nordic countries are a bit more quiet and reserved, whereas the Scottish people are more open and social.
“I also think food is cheaper here, especially meats and alcohol. I would say most prices are the same, but public transportation is also definitely cheaper. That’s been a nice bonus.”
How’s it been working together during your time here?
Matilda: “We write our Honours Projects together in Sweden, so both of us have been working on that together during our time here. We’ve divided it nicely and spent a lot of our time here in the library, which is an excellent facility at GCU. We’re now at the results part and nearly ready to hand it in.”
Kaspian: “This trip to Scotland is called ‘Honours Project Exchange’, so we’re essentially doing the work together that we would have been doing in Sweden. The added bonus is that we get to experience Scotland.
“We have a GCU lecturer who is providing support to us, which is why there is a partnership here between GCU and Umeå Universitet.”
How has this overall experience benefitted you at this point in your career?
Matilda: “I’ve really enjoyed getting the opportunity to work with people who are physiotherapists here and getting their perspective. That’s been really nice because making connections is very important in physiotherapy.
“Another important part of the exchange is that we get the chance to try academic writing in English. We write everything in Swedish at home.”
Kaspian: “I also feel the trip has allowed us to aim for high standards with our project. Our supervisor is used to the work we are doing and has helped us improve.”
What’s your plans for the rest of the time in Scotland?
Kaspian: “We’ve actually been invited to the Physiotherapy Society’s annual SubCrawl, which should be fun. We’re doing six stops, which will definitely be enough for us!
“I would also like to try and go to a football game at some point before I leave.”
In terms of the future, has this trip made you open to the idea of working outside of Scandinavia?
Matilda: “I’ve done a bit of research and the biggest factor stopping people working outside of their own country is the language barrier and the fact you need to be fluent to work in another country. There are also different accreditations tied to different countries so it isn’t necessarily simple to practice anywhere.”
Kaspian: “I would definitely come back to the UK to visit, but I think if I was leaving Sweden or Finland - where I’m actually from - to work then I would head for Southern Europe to try and get some sun!”
By Ross Clark
Got an SHLS or GSBS story? Email me at Ross.Clark@gcu.ac.uk