Study in the land of a thousand lakes

One of the scholarship programmes that students at every level of higher education can take advantage of is the well-known Erasmus+ programme, an educational programme of the European Union that promotes cooperation and mobility across European universities. 

Hana Cardová and Anna Maňásková, students of Social and Pastoral Work at ETF CU, took advantage of this offer and spent the winter semester at Diaconia University of Applied Sciences in Helsinki, Finland. 

Both of you went on Erasmus to Scandinavia. What motivated you to choose Helsinki as your study destination?

(HC): For me, the language was the main factor. Among the English-speaking countries, I chose Norway first, but in the last semester the local universities were not accepting new students. So I decided to choose the neighbouring Finland.

(AM): I also wanted to study in English, and I found a lot of positive reviews about Finland.

How do you evaluate your choice now? Would you choose differently today?

(HC): Finland has a lot to offer. I don't regret my choice; I made a good decision.

(AM): I would like to go to Finland again. Although the study was very demanding, the Finnish education system is more focused on self-study or group work, which I was not used to from the Czech Republic.  

Was your stay affected by the coronavirus pandemic? 

(HC): I went to Finland in August by car, so I didn't have to go through any complicated airport checks. However, all subjects at the university were taught by distance learning. This did not suit me, and I regret that we did not have the opportunity to attend classes directly at the faculty. 

(AM): I travelled by plane, but that was no problem either. Studying online was much more of a challenge for me. 

You are both studying Social and Pastoral Work at ETF. Did you have the opportunity to choose courses that correspond with your major?

(HC): We chose from a general selection of ten social science courses that are designed for international students. Personally, I made up for the missing pastoral part by working in a Protestant congregation. 

And how does the education in Finland compare to the Czech Republic?

(HC): Only a minimum of courses was concluded with an exam. In class, we formed a group with whom we cooperated on a final paper – an essay or team presentation on a chosen topic. 

(AM): I enjoyed the group work; the assignments were often so difficult that I was grateful for any help and the opportunity to split the work.

I would also like to mention that I missed studying social work, as it is in our faculty, most in the offering of theological and pastoral courses. A certain spiritual level that ETF offers is very important for my major. I also like the smaller number of students here, whereas in Finland the courses were almost overcrowded.

Studying online brings me to the question of housing. What was your accommodation like in Helsinki?

(HC): The accommodation in Helsinki was arranged by the HOAS agency. Through this company, I found a place in an unfurnished shared apartment, which was about 30–40 minutes by public transport from the city centre. This housing was about half the price of the dorms in the centre, and I was living with two Finnish roommates. The accommodation was good, only the communication with the agency itself was very difficult – I rate this as perhaps the biggest minus of the stay.

(AM): I lived in a dormitory in the centre. The housing was furnished, yet affordable. I lived with five German girls. The good thing was that both the faculty itself and a department store or a train station were nearby. 

What about life outside school?

(HC): The advantage of distance learning was that the courses were often in blocks and only on certain days. So we had a lot of time to spare, I enjoyed exploring Helsinki, visiting various parish choirs, and joining in selected lectures from cafés from time to time. What enchanted me, however, was the famously beautiful Finnish countryside. Together with Anna, for example, we went on a trip to Lapland.

(AM): I spent a lot of time outside the dormitory, where it was sometimes too busy for my taste. I especially enjoyed meeting new people from different parts of the world, from America to Europe to Pakistan. I attended theatres, museum workshops. And I was enchanted by the city. Helsinki is similar to Prague in many ways.

What are the Finns like?

(HC): To me, it seems that Finns are not the friendliest people. For example, with my Finnish roommates, we didn't get too close, communication was on a minimal level. It helped me a lot that I started attending an evangelical Lutheran church. 

(AM): Unfortunately, I didn't have the chance to get to know the locals more (with a few nice, warm, and welcoming exceptions). My father used to work in Finland, so some of his former colleagues were around me. 

Do you see any difference in the church culture here and in Finland?

(HC): Finland is a purely Protestant country, I'm not even afraid to call it a „Protestant paradise“. The congregation I attended was a missionary congregation, where different nationalities met. The services were in English (Finnish predominates in other churches) and are longer, with a custom of at least three readings (Old Testament, New Testament, Epistles) and the Holy Communion is celebrated every Sunday. Just as in our country, however, the following coffee and tea session is a must. Bible classes are held about twice a week. 

(AM) I have to point out that my stay was the longest time I spent without my family, so the activities of the choir and youth provided a kind of home environment. We went on trips with the youth, watched movies, and of course, sang and played musical instruments, which I really enjoyed. In addition, I attended an international choir, which allowed me to get a glimpse of other countries' cultures during youth meetings. I definitely developed spiritually in Finland.   

Hannah, how was the internship you mentioned?

(HC): I chose an activity that I could include in the practical part of my studies at the Evangelical Theological Faculty. I come from an evangelical background, and I was interested in how pastoral work is done abroad. In one of the congregations, it was enough just to attend services regularly, in another I helped to organize food collections for the poor, participated in regular youth meetings, adult Bible classes and Advent singing meetings. 

Would you recommend studying abroad and this destination to other students? 

(HC): For sure. Erasmus offers not only a wide choice of studies but also many new and unique experiences. If you are planning to go abroad, look for information on the internet or among students who have already visited the university.

(AM): I agree. I also recommend that prospective applicants look into their stay in advance, especially start making arrangements for accommodation early. I also recommend talking about Erasmus experiences with other students. Our entire international department deserves gratitude for their help and helpful approach.

Matěj Bouček