University of Economy WSG - Diana Shepeleva

Diana Shepeleva

Introduction

My name is Diana Shepeleva. I’m nineteen years old. I’m studying Tourism and Recreation in University of Economy in Bydgoszcz.
During the spring semester 2015/2016 I was an exchange student in Laurea University of Applied Sciences in Finland. I have studied Hospitality Management in Leppävaara campus that is located in Espoo.

Motivation

What were my main motivations for studying abroad?

• The quality of the receiving institution
• To experience different learning contents
• To improve my language skills
• To develop soft skills, such as adaptability
• To enhance my future employability in my home country
• To enhance my future employability abroad
• To experience different learning and teaching practices
• To follow a study program in English language
• To live abroad and to meet new people
• To gain knowledge of another country

Quality of studies
Learning by Development is a model that Laurea University of Applied Sciences use for studying their students by the best way. They prepare students for the real working life, we always should develop ourselves, use brainstorming to make the project successful. Teachers lead us to create new products and to be creative.
I like the system that students in Laurea can choose courses that they want to study. It’s very convenient, because you know your timetable; you can plan the time for working and the free time. You are never alone, because the projects in Laurea and making in teams and in case of some challenges or illness your team members will support you.
Student life in Laurea
Laurea has its own student organization, called LAUREAMKO. Tutors from LAUREAMKO were always ready to help new exchange students with their questions.
Students in Laurea are very friendly and always spend time by different activities. They often organize parties, trips and meetings, update events and posts in Facebook and so on.
I’m very happy that I have had this opportunity to study in Finland, to meet people from all over the world and to work with them for our interesting projects.

Accommodation and living in Finland
HOAS organization offers accommodation in student housing in Finland. Student housings are quite nice, but very expensive. Exchange students pay more money for the same conditions than local students. HOAS offers the accommodation only once, so if you don’t like the option that they send or it’s too expensive for you, you are not allowed to choose cheapest one. Because to rent a flat in Finland costs up 650 Euros and more.
Living in Finland costs a lot of money, you feel it every moment. Average cost that I have (accommodation, food and transport) per month was approximately 740 Euros (500 Euros-student housing, 40 Euros- travel card for every day transport and 200 Euros for food).

All exchange students together