Are you satisfied with your exchange, and would you recommend others to do the same?
I am highly satisfied with my exchange experience in Wageningen University and Research (WUR). The selection process was clear and fast, and I did not encounter any obstacle during the application and registration procedure. As NMBU and WUR have good agreements, it reinforced my will to go there for my exchange.
WUR is an excellent university (1rst
university in agriculture & forestry ranked worldwide), with
state-of-the-art facilities and equipment and highly competent professors.
Notwithstanding the demanding level of the courses, the professors are all very
helpful and good pedagogues.
The courses catalogue is big, which gives
every student a great opportunity to broaden their perspective but also
specialize in many subjects.
Together with the good level of education,
the campus is very pleasant. A lot of attention is drawn to biodiversity and
sustainability on campus. There are many activities, clubs, cultural &
sportive events organized. There are students from all around the world that
you are able to meet thanks to a dynamic student life. In WUR, you can find a
very good balance between studying and enjoying your time there.
Therefore, I strongly recommend WUR as a destination for an exchange. You will not regret it!
Was it difficult to get the courses you
wanted at the host university?
There is a selection process from WUR,
which ensures that students have the required education level to attend the
courses. It was not difficult to get the courses I wanted, but you have to make
sure you are choosing your courses according to the prerequisites of the
courses. If you want to go for a course that is different from what you usually
take, make sure to go for an introductory course or maybe a Bachelor course. The
choice is tremendous, you will not be disappointed anyway.
The courses I attended:
-
WSG34806 Climate
Change Adaptation in Water Management
-
SBL35306 The Carbon
Dilemma - a soil perspective (6 ECTS)
-
SDC30806 Political Ecologies of Natural Resource
Distribution (6 ECTS)
-
FSE50306 Ecological
Design and Permaculture (6 ECTS)
-
ELS32806 Teaching,
Learning and Capacity Building for Sustainable Development (6 ECTS)
Do not hesitate to come back to me if you want more info about the courses I have chosen! 😊
Did you get all of the courses approved
when back at NMBU?
I got all my courses validated by WUR,
therefore it should be fine with NMBU. Again, the communication and the process
between the 2 universities is fluid, so it is not worrying me.
Are you satisfied with the academic
quality at the host university?
As mentioned in the above, the academic
quality of the host university is excellent. If you are looking for high
quality courses and professors, WUR is the place to go. You will have to study
and be serious, as it has not gained its title for nothing. However, I consider
my time there as very fruitful and full of discoveries. It was a very enriching
experience as I could meet many different professors but also students in
various studies.
The English level is really good. You need to get an English proficiency such as the TOEFL (90/120), but it is necessary if you want to feel comfortable during the classes.
How beneficial was the Erasmus grant?
Did you obtain what you wanted by going on exchange?
The ERASMUS grant was very beneficial, and
I am very thankful for it. As the life in the Netherlands is quite expensive
(although less than in Norway!), getting a grant is a great incentive to go
there. Without it, I would not have been able to go.
I was expecting several things from this
experience, among which more knowledge on sustainable agriculture, water
management, land and water politics. I wanted to broaden up my horizon, get to
know better what I want and what I like, what I study for. Because I could
choose various courses, I feel that my objectives are complete.
I also wanted to meet students from diverse
parts of the world. Cultural diversity and inclusiveness are two main assets of
WUR, therefore you can find your place there.
Keywords: The Netherlands, Wageningen
University & Research, agriculture & agroecology, master, MSc
Agroecology
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