Person 47 Basic Information 1. Name Karin Söhrman 2. E-mail address: karin.sohrman@telia.com 3. Exchange university Massey University 4. City Wellington 5. Country New Zealand 6. First semester of your exchange Swedish spring semester (VT) 7. Academic year Alternativ 8. What subject area/s did you study during your exchange? Mainly fashion design but also textile design & a drama paper 9. Level of studies at the exchange university Undergraduate 10. What are you studying at Uppsala University? Political science/peace & conflict studies 11. How many years of study had you completed before going on exchange? 4 Studies 12. Tell us about your studies on your exchange. If you are stuck for ideas you can for exemple write about: The differences between Uppsala University and the exchange. What were the teachers like? What courses would you recommend (or not) for future exchange students? The relationship between teachers and students. The academic level and quality of your courses. Access to computers. Examinations... The main difference between Uppsala & Massey is that in New Zeland, you are taking papers parallel. This causes some troubles in sorting out your schedule and also demands more planning to manage independent studies of 4 papers simultaneously. The workload also differs from Uppsala. While full time studies in Sweden means 40h/week, full time studies in New Zealand means 60h/week... On the bright side I enjoyed my papers so much I didn t mind spending all my wakening hours studying. As a CoCA (College of Creative Arts) student I didn t have any exams so in exchange for the crazy workload during the semesters, we had 3 extra weeks holiday each semester. The relationship with the teachers are similar to that in Sweden we were on first name terms with them and there could be a lot of joking and poking between students and teachers. I would definitely recommend studying at Massey CoCA! They push us hard but you learn loads & all the teachers are really knowledgeable & many have been working in the field too and not just withing the university. I would especially recommend Studio I Dress and Fashion Textiles. I had so much fun with these papers! Both Apparel Pattern development and Apparel Construction were papers that taught me a lot even though I didn t enjoy every minute of them. Though if you are going to take CoCA papers you need to put a lot of work in the so called work book. Make sure you know exactly what the teachers want you to have in it and concentrate on that even though the making of garments (or whatever) are more fun. However I would not recommend the paper Communication in Creative Cultures. Unfortunately that is mandatory if you want to get a design degree but if you just are taking random papers your time will be better spent taking another paper. The paper is trying to incorporate an academic component to an otherwise practical design degree but is focus on the wrong Vetenskapsområdet för medicin och farmaci, Uppsala universitet Sida 133 av 396
things. Me, having written a bachelor thesis and several other academic assignments, found the assignments in this paper not only far too easy (which is fair enough since they are developped for students with little to no academic experience) but what worse downright misguiding. The focus on referencing was on getting all the full stops and commas right in the bibliography, not on why you need to know how to support your claims with academic sources. For me already having a degree it felt like a paper trying to be very academic and research based but totally failing. The result was a very forced way of trying to claim that a design degree has the same level on academic research and writing as, say a bachelor in political science, which is simply not true. They are trying too hard to be academic without knowing how to do it. A degree is not lesser just because you don t spend your days researching and writing complicated theories! The way the papers are being taught at CoCA are quite similar to the Swedish high school (gymnasiet) but with more independent studying. We had one three hour class per week and paper (=4/week in total) with aprox 30 students and 2 teachers. In addition to that you were expected to spend 12h/week & paper (48h/week in total) on independent studies though with good planning you could spend less and still get good grades. I would say that the quality on the studies at Massey are equal to that of Uppsala, each university has some fields where they are better and some where they are worse and I believe I ve managed to find both universities strenghs ) I m suppose to compare the access to computers to that of Uppsala but since I have my own computer I don t really know what the access is like in Uppsala... I will therefore write a bit about access to libraries. It is totally outstanding at Massey!! It is open between 7 & 23 every week-day & between 10 & 20 on week-ends. There are plenty of computers there with internet access and you can connect your device to the uni s wifi though that is unreasonably complicated and takes a technician to help the first time... The library also offers printing, copying & scanning to very reasonable prices (the scanning is free, printing/copying is 5 cents for black and white and 40 cents for excellent colour Orientation and reception 13. Tell us about how it was to arrive and settle in. The uni offers free transport from the airport for international students. Upon arrival I was welcomed by a residential assistant (RA) who showed me my flat and briefed me on rules. The mandatory international orientation started a week before the papers and was two days of specific international orientation and three days of orientation for all new Massey students. The international one was fun and I wouldn t want to miss it but I don t understand why it was mandatory. Most information you got there was things you heard from your teachers in the first class or stuff about driving in NZ ( we drive on the left side. It is illegal to drink and drive & illegal to take drugs whether you intend to drive or not ). It was however a good and fun way to see a bit of your new hometown, get to know some fellow international students and the international coordinator, Cherie, who was a gem! Accommodation 14. Describe your accommodation. What type of accommodation did you have, where you satisfied? Do you have any tips for future students? I stayed in the Cube, which is Massey s student accommodation. Massey only offers student accommodation for first years so the building was filled with teenagers who had just moved away from home and thought this was an excellent opportunity to party as hard as possible... I was very glad I had my studio and didn t have to share a flat with any of these people! Though the office people as well as the RAs were great and did their very best to keep things calm. It is a very easy way to get accommodation and it was absolutely great to have that sorted out before I left Sweden. If Vetenskapsområdet för medicin och farmaci, Uppsala universitet Sida 134 av 396
you are a bit older (I m 28) and don t feel like flatting with teenagers (the studios are quite expensive) I would recommend finding a flat outside the Cube. Sharing a flat or a house is the most common way of living if you are a student and second years and older are generally more mature so I would recommend that instead! Be prepared, however, that New Zealanders haven t heard of insulation... My flat was 15 degrees during the winter so bring plenty of clothes and a warm blanket (or buy one). Your finances 15. Describe the cost of living. Did you find CSN adequate? How was the rent in comparison to your rent in Uppsala? Did you undertake part-time work in addition to your studies? New Zealand (or at least Wellington) is a little cheaper than Sweden. Though the meat is more expensive (and a LOT better). CSN was adequate during the semesters. However I had four weeks of winter holiday with no income since CSN only gives you money while you are studying and my visa didn t allow me to work... Also if you want to do some travelling you will need to have saved money because the CSN money is only enough for rent, food and some leissure time activities. The rent was more expensive for less space (4500kr/month for 21 m2 instead of 3500kr/month for 45...) but if you share a flat instead it is fairly cheap. Free time 16. What did you do in your free time? Did the university arrange any special activities? Where there any activities specifically for exchange students? Were you happy with what was on offer? After each semester I had to have a week of doing nothing but sleep... After that I explored New Zealand, did a South Island trip, went to Hobbiton 3 times, went to Auckland to stalk one of my favourite bands (Flirting With Disaster). The International Society arranged a couple of trips. I went with them on a combine vineyard/sheepfarm trip, did the Tongariro Crossing (tramping up Mount Doom =D ) and the Skyline Walkway (a walk in Wellington with magnificent view over the city). I was happy with what the INternational Society offered but it is fully possible to fill your free time with things to do without any help in New Zealand. There is something for everyone: beautiful scenery, cute little towns, good music and pubs, partying, adrenaline rushing things, film location (mainly LotR but many other films have been made in NZ). Your exchange on the whole 17. Please sum up your exchange experience. If you have any other tips for future exchange students, or any other comments feel free to include them here. Skip Australia and go to New Zealand! ) But most important: go on an exchange you will have the time of your life. Make sure you have some time either before or after the semester(s) start(s) to do some travelling. Save up money before you go because you will be spending a lot more than if you were studying at your home university. If you are going as far away as NZ you should stay two semesters, four months is too short. It also took me one semester to figure out how uni worked so it is good to have a semester when you actually know what you are doing ) Wellington is the best city in the world!! Vetenskapsområdet för medicin och farmaci, Uppsala universitet Sida 135 av 396
Approval 18. Your report will be available for future exchange students in printed form at the International Office and will be sent by email to individual students requesting it. Do you also approve the publishing of your exchange report on Uppsala University s website? Yes 19. Do you have any photos you would like to upload and include in your exchange report? http://doit.medfarm.uu.se/kurtattachment/1422307546598765570.jpg 20. Please tell us a little bit about the picture/s. Wellington is filled with totally awesome street art! 21. Publishing of pictures I approve of my pictures being published and used in Uppsala University s marketing of international exchanges Thank you for submitting your exchange report! Vetenskapsområdet för medicin och farmaci, Uppsala universitet Sida 136 av 396
Person 88 Basic Information 1. Name Mattias Nitschke 2. E-mail address: mattias.nitschke@gmail.com 3. Exchange university Massey University 4. City Albany/Auckland 5. Country Nya Zeeland 6. First semester of your exchange Swedish autumn semester (HT) 7. Academic year 2014/2015 8. What subject area/s did you study during your exchange? Geografi, Engelska, Socialarbete och Antropologi 9. Level of studies at the exchange university Undergraduate 10. What are you studying at Uppsala University? Kulurantropologi/Etnologi 11. How many years of study had you completed before going on exchange? 2 Studies 12. Tell us about your studies on your exchange. If you are stuck for ideas you can for exemple write about: The differences between Uppsala University and the exchange. What were the teachers like? What courses would you recommend (or not) for future exchange students? The relationship between teachers and students. The academic level and quality of your courses. Access to computers. Examinations... Studierna i Nya Zeeland skiljer sig ganska så mycket upplägget på svenska universitet. Alla kurser i Nya Zeealand läses parallellt över hela terminen och tentas av i slutet med final examinations. Detta betyder att större delen av dagarna under terminen spenderas på universitetet eftersom det är 2-4 föreläsningar och seminarier i alla kurser varje vecka. Det är också vanligt att ha 3-4 mindre inlämningar i varje ämne under terminen, dessa kan sammanlagt vara värda ca 40-60% av ditt betyg så allt hänger därför inte på examinationen i slutet av terminen. Detta upplägg kan kanske jämföras med gymnasiet i Sverige då större delen av dagarna spenderas i skolan och du har inlämningar till olika datum under terminen. Detta tar ett tag att vänja sig vid och hitta avvägningen mellan att spendera tid på inlämningar och läsa kurslitteratur. Relationen till lärarna på mitt campus var väldigt avslappnad, även detta kändes med som ett svenskt gymnasium. Nivån överlag på studierna överlag kändes ganska så låg, detta märkes också emellanåt på lärarna. Det kan dock även ha att göra med att jag bara läste level 1-kurser. Campus där universitetet ligger är nytt så det finns ett fint bibliotek och många datorer att tillgå. Däremot är det ganska så litet, det finns några få matställen och en pub. Majoriteten av studenterna bor dock inte i Albany vilket gör att universitetet ofta är väldigt dött och tomt. Vetenskapsområdet för medicin och farmaci, Uppsala universitet Sida 252 av 396
Orientation and reception 13. Tell us about how it was to arrive and settle in. Det går att beställa upphämtning från flygplatsen om så önskas. Jag fick hjälp av de som jag delade boende med att komma tillrätta och hitta i området när jag kom fram. Detta sköttes inte så mycket av universitetet, utan mer av studentboendet. Första veckan anordnades det diverse aktiviteter på campusområdet, rundvisning, introduktionstal osv. Även studentboendet anordnade resor och andra aktiviteter första veckan för att folk skulle lära känna varandra. Jag kände att min första tid var enkel, introduktionen på universitet var bra och jag hade bra koll på hur allting fungerade och de tjänster som gick att tillgå. Accommodation 14. Describe your accommodation. What type of accommodation did you have, where you satisfied? Do you have any tips for future students? Jag bodde i ett studentboende som var arrangerat genom universitetet. Detta var som ett litet hus med 6 rum, några toaletter kök och vardagsrum. Jag delade alltså detta boendet med 6 andra. De flesta var från Nya Zeeland men någon var utbytesstudent. Jag fann mycket glädje i att bo med andra för att hitta en umgängeskrets och få hjälp med praktiska frågor, så detta kan jag verkligen rekommendera. Boendet låg ca 15 min gång från campus men jag tror att nya bostäder är byggda på campus till 2015 så nu skulle jag nog ha valt att bo där om jag kunde. Det blir inte så kallt kring Auckland så temperaturen inne är inget problem om det finns element och om elen är gratis. Om du behöver betala för el så är det värre för det är väldigt dyrt och det behövs mycket element för att hålla det varmt inne på vintern. Your finances 15. Describe the cost of living. Did you find CSN adequate? How was the rent in comparison to your rent in Uppsala? Did you undertake part-time work in addition to your studies? Boende i Auckland överlag är väldigt dyrt. Studentboendet är inget undantag, jag har för mig att det låg på runt 5500-6000 kr i månaden. Boendet lever inte alls upp till priser som betalas men det är någonting som gäller för hela Auckland. Det går säkert att hitta lite billigare än studentboendet men då en bit ifrån universitetet. Priserna i Nya Zeealand överlag är som i Sverige, att handla mat i affären kan till och med vara dyrare men äta ute billigare än hemma. Universitetet tar ut en avgift på några tusen, även studentboendet tar ut någon extra avgift. Så CSN räcker inte långt när boendet är så dyrt, flygresan dyr, avgifter av universitet och boende samt höga levnadskostnader. Jag rekommenderar därför att komma ned med sparpengar, speciellt om du vill resa runt i landet. Free time 16. What did you do in your free time? Did the university arrange any special activities? Where there any activities specifically for exchange students? Were you happy with what was on offer? Förutom första veckan så ordnade inte universitetet några aktiviteter. Studentboendet däremot ordnade aktiviteter men jämna mellanrum. Ibland någon sport på campus eller middag, någon gång större utflykter. Det finns även många studentföreningar eller klubbar som anordnar aktiviteter, så som skidåkning och klättring. Problemet med Albany är dock att det är så litet, det finns ingenting att göra där förutom campus och ett stort köpcenter. Bussen som går direkt till stan ligger 30 minuters gång från campus och tar ca 30 min in till centrala Auckland. Detta gör att vardagen blir ganska så tråkig då nästan hela dagarna Vetenskapsområdet för medicin och farmaci, Uppsala universitet Sida 253 av 396
spenderas i skolan på föreläsningar och i biblioteket. Efter det finns det inte mycket att göra alls i Albany och det är ett mindre projekt att ta sig in till stan. På helgerna försökte jag ta mig ifrån Albany och jag gjorde en del utflykter till närliggande stränder och förorter med buss, kollektivtrafiken är dock inte så bra, så bil rekommenderas. Vid längre utflykter eller resor så är Nya Zeeland fantastiskt. Det finns väldigt mycket att se och göra, framförallt om du gillar natur, vackra vyer och hiking. Your exchange on the whole 17. Please sum up your exchange experience. If you have any other tips for future exchange students, or any other comments feel free to include them here. Det dyra boendet kombinerat med de relativt höga levnadskostnaderna gjorde att jag blev ganska så begränsad ekonomiskt. Detta var ett problem för att det som är värt att göra på Nya Zeealand är att resa runt. Albany, där universitetet ligger är en tråkig och liten förort långt ifrån Auckland. Universitet är litet och har ingen studentkultur och det finns inte så mycket människor att umgås med. Detta gjorde att vardagen blev ganska så tråkig och gick ut på att gå i skolan och umgås med de människorna som jag bodde tillsammans med. På helgerna går det att göra mycket roliga saker som att vara i Auckland, göra mindre utflykter eller besöka närliggande städer eller öar. Om du åker till Albany, tro inte att du kommer bo i Auckland för det tar ett tag att åka dit, speciellt med buss. Se till att hitta mycket kompisar att umgås med i Albany och hyr bil eller gör så mycket utflykter som du kan. Efter terminens slut hyrde jag och två vänner en husbil och körde runt på sydön och lite på nordön i några veckor. Detta är något som jag verkligen kan rekommendera om det finns tid och pengar. Approval 18. Your report will be available for future exchange students in printed form at the International Office and will be sent by email to individual students requesting it. Do you also approve the publishing of your exchange report on Uppsala University s website? Yes 19. Do you have any photos you would like to upload and include in your exchange report? - 20. Please tell us a little bit about the picture/s. - 21. Publishing of pictures - Thank you for submitting your exchange report! Vetenskapsområdet för medicin och farmaci, Uppsala universitet Sida 254 av 396