Exchange Report on Lund University Aric YEUNG BBA (Global Business and Economics)

Transcription

1 Exchange Report on Lund University Aric YEUNG BBA (Global Business and Economics) Part 1 - Monthly Activity Log January 2013 I have arrived in Lund on the official arrival day and have handled administrative procedures such as registration, checking in to student housing and applying for orientation activities. The orientation period lasts for around one week before normal classes start officially. I took the chance to get to know people, understand the city and took the one-week Swedish course for exchange students to get a basic understanding of Swedish grammar and vocabulary. I also went to the IKEA at a nearby city (Malmö) to buy relatively cheap furniture and bedding for my room. Normal classes start after the first week, but the classes were less frequent and intense. Some friends and I took the chance to experience Swedish traditions such as the fika (Swedish tea time ) during our first month. I have also visited Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark which is less than an hour away from Lund. February 2013 Normal classes continue in this month. I have gone on a few day trips to cities nearby Lund, such as Helsingborg. I have also participated in various activities organized by student associations and by the International Desk, including the Language Café which is a semester-long volunteering project involving interacting with high school students in Lund. March 2013 Typical courses in Lund last for around two months so I have courses ending this month. I have taken ordinary sit-down exams as well as a take-home essay exam for the courses. After a short break of a few days, my courses in the second period began. I have continued to be involved in the projects during my remaining months.

2 April 2013 Spring is finally in Sweden and I have gone hiking with the International Desk. I think it is a good way to experience the scenery in Sweden. There was also the Global Day in Lund University where exchange students like me will have a chance to promote our home university and country to interested students. I have also participated in the end of April annual celebration which is extremely popular among Swedish university cities. I think it is an activity worth joining if you are in town, and they even will have a bonfire as evening approaches. May & June 2013 Courses in the second period were also ending and I have faced assignments and examinations during this month. 6 th June is the National Day of Sweden and I went to a nearby Swedish town to experience the National Day and its celebrations. It was almost time for exchange students to leave as the semester ends. The university organized an Official Farewell Reception and I also had informal farewells with my friends before finally returning back to Hong Kong. Part 2 - General Exchange Information Visa procedures I was required to apply for the resident permit to stay and study in Sweden during my exchange program. The resident permit could be obtained at the Consulate General of Sweden in Hong Kong; required documents include the Lund University acceptance letter, relevant insurance policy, proof of bank account balance etc. (you should check the consulate website for the most updated requirements for the application), plus HKD1000 in processing fees. The whole process requires about two months so allow enough time for the application. Orientation activities Arrival day: Lund University student mentors will meet exchange students at the Lund train station and guide them through the arrival and registration process. I was also given a schedule for the upcoming orientation activities together with other useful articles including a SIM card.

3 Mentor groups: Each exchange student is assigned into a mentor group before arrival, and mentor groups would usually organize different activities for exchange students to introduce them to the student life in Lund and the Swedish culture. I think some orientation activities are party-oriented but there are still other activities by mentor groups which are unrelated to parties, including fika, day trips and dinners. Orientation week and introductory Swedish: The school also organizes orientation activities through the International Desk; these include a Swedish food tasting session and a day trip around the region. Finally, the university organizes an optional week-long introductory Swedish course for exchange students, which I would recommend taking as you will be able to understand the Swedish vocabulary around you and will even lay the foundation in case you would like to learn Swedish further during the exchange semester. There are also Swedish language videos produced by the university if you would like to have a head start before arrival. Accommodations Exchange students will have a chance to apply for accommodation online before arrival, and most of my friends on exchange including me were assigned accommodation by the university. There is also the option to sign rental contracts on the arrival day if you are not satisfied with the assigned accommodation or you were not offered accommodation at the moment. I lived in a single room with shared kitchen at the corridor in the Brunnsbo area. The living standards in Sweden are generally high and the rooms are spacious. The location is convenient as the city center and the business school are within minutes by walking. There is a more expensive supermarket (Coop) within a few minutes by walking. The monthly rent for the room is around SEK4000, which is average for a room with private toilet provided by the university. My housing area consists mostly of exchange students. I also had a friend who lives in a studio flat with a private kitchen at the Studentkåren area. The accommodation is convenient in terms of location as it is right next to the business school and a relatively cheaper supermarket (ICA); and also next to the SPARTA accommodation area. There are various options available for exchange students depending upon their preferences. Rent could be paid by the month or as a lump-sum for the whole exchange period; I chose the latter option because I would need to pay a fixed transaction fee each time I pay my rent.

4 Course registration Before arrival, I could apply for up to 5 courses online, together with two alternative choices for each course. The courses I had are all 7.5 ECTS credits each, and most courses last for around 2 months. It is possible for courses to have time clashes; this is quite common in Lund University and usually poses no problems because most lectures are voluntary (some tutorials and seminars are compulsory though). As mentioned before, my courses are 7.5 ECTS credits each and below are a brief description of the courses. NEKH52 Environmental Economics (ECON Elective; Jan-Mar): The course analyzes different environmental problems using economic concepts and methodologies such as the use of simple statistics. It covers many different topics about the environment slightly. I have heard from local students that the course will no longer be offered. The course is not very intensive; assessments include one group project and one sit-down exam. SASA16 Gender, Social Change and Modernity in Sweden (Social Analysis; Jan-Mar): The course covered the modern history of the Scandinavian region from the focus of gender studies. I think this is a good course to understand Sweden and Scandinavia because this course is specific enough. The course has a relatively heavy workload with readings and brief presentations every two weeks, and a take-home exam at the end. SASA21 Education, Language and Communication (Arts and Humanities; Mar-Apr): This course also has a specific focus in Scandinavia while discussing general research and theories in education. We had to form groups to complete a final project consisting of a research paper and a final presentation. The instructor allowed us to freely decide on a research question while providing us with guidance during tutorial sessions. SASH26 Diversity of the World s Languages (Arts and Humanities; Mar-May): The course covers the languages of different places on Earth and discusses their characteristics briefly. There is also a group project where your group interviews someone speaking a language that you do not know, and you try to learn about and understand that language. It is an interesting project and the project ends with a written report and oral presentation. There is a take-home exam at the end. NEKG41 Macroeconomic Analysis (ECON3024 Managerial Macroeconomics; Apr-Jun): This is a macroeconomics course but it covers a few more models than the basic macroeconomics course in HKUST. There is also a greater degree of

5 real-life application especially towards the current situation of Sweden and the European Union. The course includes assignments where you need to learn about alternative macroeconomic models not taught in class, which I find interesting and useful. There is also a sit-down final exam. Teaching & assessment methods Lectures in Lund are of a similar format as in HKUST, where instructors use the majority of the time to lecture while leaving some time for students to participate and ask questions. Tutorials in Lund are more interactive than lectures, instructors expect students to participate actively by asking questions and giving personal opinion. As mentioned above, most lectures are voluntary except for tutorial sessions where attendance is compulsory because you would need to make presentations. Formal assessments for most courses include a final exam (for example sit-down exams, take-home exams and final presentations), projects, essays and assignments throughout the course. There may also be informal assessments such as overall attendance and participation in class. Sports & recreation facilities Unlike HKUST, Lund University does not directly operate sports facilities. Facilities such as gyms, swimming pools and squash courts are operated by outside organizations in the city, and users would have to pay to those organizations to use such facilities. Social clubs & networking opportunities Lund has a unique type of organizations called student nations, which is very popular among students and offer different activities to enrich student life. The most popular is partying at the nations, which is relatively cheap and only students of Lund University (who paid a nation fee) are allowed to enter their clubs. Some nations also organize meals such as lunches, dinners and brunches at more student-friendly prices and the food quality are usually exceptionally well considering the price. The business school itself also has a union which is responsible for organizing different types of activities, including social events, career and networking events and case competitions. It is a good way to meet other exchange students and Swedish students here in a more formal context.

6 Transportation Lund is appropriately described as a biking city, as the majority of its residents own a bike for getting around. Biking facilities such as biking lanes, bike racks are abundant in the city and the whole city is small enough to be travelled in a bike. Second-hand bikes could be bought in the city for around SEK depending on the quality. I have decided to not buy a bike because I lived near the city center. There are also city buses operating around the city, which are a bit more expensive than buses in Hong Kong. As a student in Lund, you would be eligible for getting a student ticket which you would pay by the month at a discount. Also, if you have the time, Lund is a nice city for walking so it is possible that you find walking to be the most efficient and cost effective way of getting around. Climate It was winter when I have arrived in January, be sure to bring appropriate clothing if you are going in the Spring semester because the winter is cold and harsh with occasion snow and temperature usually goes below zero degrees Celsius. However, heaters are available in most buildings and rooms so it would be much warmer indoors. Spring arrives in around March and April and the climate is much milder with temperatures as high as 20 degrees Celsius during midday. Rainy days are quite prevalent during springtime. Part 3 - Items to Bring Letter of Acceptance Residence permit An umbrella Thick clothing Light jacket for chilly evenings Unlocked mobile phone (for use with the SIM card provided by the university) Computer with internet cable

7 Portable Wi-Fi station A PLUS ATM card Two-legged Adaptor for power outlet I hope you ll enjoy your exchange!