Shevchenko Valeriia

Specialty – International Relations, Social Communications, and Regional Studies, 291-23-1

University of Tartu, 02.09.2024 – 02.02.2025, specialty during mobility – Social Sciences

Direct speech from a mobility program participant

– Where did you live (dormitory, rented, hostel, other)?

I lived in a dormitory provided by the university.

– Did you receive a scholarship for the mobility program? If yes, what percentage of the minimum necessary living expenses did the scholarship cover?

Yes, the scholarship covered all the expenses.

– Based on your experience, what should future mobility program participants pay attention to when preparing for it?

First of all, you need to understand what exactly you want to gain during the academic mobility period. This will help you choose the right courses and learning paths. Second, documentation. It's important to prepare all the necessary documents in advance, such as a motivation letter, recommendations, grade transcript, language certificates, etc. Third, the financial part. Be sure to find out if the program covers all expenses, and if not, what additional expenses may arise (housing, transportation, insurance, etc.).

– What unexpected issues did you encounter during the mobility?

For me, the most unexpected issue was the differences in the educational process. For example, some courses didn’t have traditional lectures but instead had discussions, group projects, or even oral exams instead of written ones. This required a different approach to studying and adaptation. I also had to deal with household issues, such as finding an affordable but good-quality mobile service, where to buy groceries, and how public transport works in different parts of the city.

– Briefly describe your expectations from the mobility and whether they were realized.

Before going, I expected that mobility would give me the opportunity to improve my knowledge in my field, make new friends, and adapt to a different culture. It would help me improve my language skills and experience what it's like to live in another country. I can say that the level of education was higher than what we are used to. At first, it was a "challenge," but over time it taught me how to organize my time better and work with large volumes of information. The social part exceeded my expectations – I met people from all over the world, including Ukraine, with whom we spent time together and even traveled.

– What educational and cultural activities did you participate in during the mobility?

Educationally, I attended lectures and workshops organized by the university, including seminars. I also participated in student conferences where I had the opportunity to present research and discuss current issues with other participants.

– Share your most vivid impressions of the mobility.

The most vivid impressions from the mobility are related to people and new friendships. Communicating with classmates from different countries showed me how different the approaches to learning, perceptions of the world, and even everyday habits can be. I particularly remember the discussions in seminars, where everyone could share their views on global issues, and often the opinions were completely opposite, but always interesting. Additionally, I found true friends with whom we visited several other countries. Being far from home, we gathered together during holidays to spend this time in a small family circle. I think this will remain one of the warmest memories from the entire period. Another of the most valuable experiences was the sense of independence that comes when you overcome cultural and everyday challenges in a foreign country. This experience gave me confidence in my abilities and really expanded my horizons. 

I can confidently say that mobility provided me not only with academic experience but also personal growth. It was a time of discoveries, new acquaintances, and moments that will stay with me for a long time.

– Would you like to go on the mobility program again, and to which country?

Yes, possibly. It's hard to say where exactly, but I prefer warmer countries.

– Would you recommend participating in the mobility program?

Yes, definitely.