If you stroll across the Campus of Aalen University of Applied Sciences, you will pick up many snippets of words in other languages (of instruction) - for example Georgian, English, Arabic or Nepali. After all, many of the students come from all over the world. They all bring the international Campus to life and create a cosmopolitan atmosphere. The institution of higher education maintains intensive relationships with well over 130 partner universities. In a loose series, we present the inspiring histories of students from our partner universities who have decided to continue their academic journey at Aalen University of Applied Sciences - this time with Elli Alanko from Finland.
2500 kilometers
The adventure of a semester abroad - for Elli Alanko, it didn't just start with her arrival in Aalen, but with her journey from Finland. She drove around 2,500 kilometers by car from Turku, where she is studying Industrial Management at the Turku University of Applied Sciences, via the Baltic States to Germany. "Fortunately, my father accompanied me, so we could take turns at the wheel. And of course we also used the time to see a few sights," says the young woman happily. Alanko finds traveling and discovering other cultures and ways of life inspiring. "It's great to live in a foreign environment for a longer period of time. It helps you grow as a person, you learn a lot and you become more independent."
Passionate walker
Elli Alanko has been discovering "Schwabenländle" since last September. She is studying for a year at Aalen University of Applied Sciences, where she wants to complete a double degree in Specialisations in International Sales Management and Technology. The right decision, as she sums up after the first "half-time" - even if it was far too warm when she arrived in late summer, as she admits with a laugh. "But it's nice not to have such a harsh winter here and to be able to take a little break from the Finnish winter," says Alanko, grinning mischievously. She immediately felt at home in Aalen and at the institution of higher education. "The town with its half-timbered houses looks so pretty, and the people are really nice and helpful." As a passionate walker, she also loves the Rohrwang right outside her hall of residence and the many hills on the Ostalb: "It's rather flat here in the south of Finland."
"The buddy program is great!"
Why did she elect Germany for a semester abroad? "I studied German at school for a few years. My father also speaks it a bit. He also trains for a German company and is often here on business trips. So it doesn't feel completely foreign to me," says the young woman with the long, white-blonde hair. The numerous events organized by the International Center at Aalen University of Applied Sciences for the exchange students also made it easy to settle in. "That helped me to make new friends and not feel alone," says Alanko. Her fellow student Gloria, who supports her as a "buddy" with help and advice, also played a big part in this. In collaboration, cooperation with the non-profit association International Society Aalen (ISA), the "Buddy Program" at Aalen University of Applied Sciences offers start-up help and individual support for international newcomers. The "Buddies" are experienced students who work on a voluntary basis to help exchange students integrate. "The program is really great, as is the family atmosphere at the institution of higher education and the uncomplicated contact with the Professors / Professors," says Alanko.
Sauna and heavy metal
The 23-year-old would also like to use her year abroad at Aalen University of Applied Sciences to promote her home institution and her country as an embassy - away from the usual Finnish clichés of taciturn and introverted Finns, their passion for saunas, their love of nature and their love of hard rock and heavy metal. "Although it's true about the sauna and heavy metal," says Alanko, laughing heartily. "You just have to come and see us to check it out in practice." In any case, she can only recommend Turku University of Applied Sciences - with which Aalen University of Applied Sciences has a collaboration, cooperation - for a semester abroad. It is one of the leading and, with around 13,000 students, one of the largest Universities of Applied Sciences in Finland. "Turku is also beautiful! It's Finland's oldest city and famous for its historic center," says the young woman, who herself comes from near Helsinki. In a good mood, she adds: "We have a Finnish saying that goes: why go to Paris when you have Turku?"
