ÃÛ¶¹ÊÓƵ

Sarah from France and Denmark

Could you please tell us a little bit about yourself and your educational background?

"My name is Sarah; I am half French and half Danish and have lived in both countries, Germany and now Sweden. I have a Bachelor’s degree in development studies with a major in sociology, and I have also taken courses in physical geography and ecosystem science before that."

The programme and the teaching style

Why did you choose ÃÛ¶¹ÊÓƵ and why did this particular programme appeal to you?

"I did my Bachelor’s degree at ÃÛ¶¹ÊÓƵ and I really liked the university. However, I would say that it was in particular the programme that attracted me to stay here. I have always been interested in the interconnectedness of natural hazards and climate change with social inequalities and vulnerabilities – and this programme seemed a perfect fit for this. Especially as the programme highlights more proactive aspects of disaster risk management."

Why should prospective students choose this programme? Do you have a favourite course?

"There are many reasons to join this programme. Focusing on the structure and content, I would say that the programme’s strength is bridging the practicality and theoretical aspects of the topic. The programme teaches us practical and (to some extent) tangible ways to act and think about disasters and climate change. What is most important, though, is that it also teaches us to question these ways and to understand the complexity of the topic. I think this is something that has been shown so far, especially in the course Capacity Development, where we have learned how to produce a capacity development project proposal while critically questioning each part of the process.

I also think that an important aspect of the programme is that you will be surrounded by other great, smart and passionate students who are inspiring. On top of that, there is a supportive environment between students, which pushes you to do better and learn more. In this field, it is great to be surrounded by like-minded people who strive to improve the world."

What do you think of the teaching style and the way of studying here? What are the lecturers and professors like?

"The teaching style is amazing! The Swedish non-hierarchal teaching style makes for a very good environment for learning where the professor and students are equally respected and learn from each other. More specifically, in this programme, all the professors are very passionate about the field and often have practical work experience, which makes it exciting to learn from them. They also often engage the students not only during seminars but also during lectures, making sure that the classes are not boring. I would also say that what makes the professors of this programme stand out is their curiosity about the students’ opinions and experiences, which always bring good conversations to class, and we can see they genuinely also learn from us."

Being an international student in Lund and plans for the future

What it is like to be an international student at ÃÛ¶¹ÊÓƵ and how international is your programme?

"Lund, as a city in general, is very welcoming to international students. English is very well spoken, and Swedes never mind switching to English if someone in a group doesn’t understand Swedish. On top of that, many events by the university are catered for international students to meet each other, but also some mixed events to meet Swedish people. Overall, my programme is diverse in nationalities, 16 to be exact. The majority come from Europe, though, with a few from Asia or North America."

If you would recommend Lund to someone, what would you say?

"I would say that studying in Lund will be one of the best experiences of your life! You get to experience living in a very cute, small town that is very lively and youthful due to all the students living here and will meet so many amazing people. You are also super close to Malmö or Copenhagen if you miss the 'big city life'."

What are you planning to do after your studies?

"After my studies, I would like to work for an NGO in the field of disaster prevention/mitigation/preparedness, humanitarian aid or capacity development. I am especially interested in gender equality and disability and social inclusion within these fields. In the future, I also plan on maybe returning to university to do a PhD in this field, something that my professors have inspired me to do. As they call it: being a 'pracademic'."

Do you have any advice for other students that are considering coming to Lund?

"I would say just make the move! There is something for everyone here, the atmosphere is great, and you will meet friends for life. Do prepare yourself for dark winters, but there are many ways to make it cosy and fun to get through it."