Norway, there we go!
They are more than 200 all around Spain and they are on the verge of beginning an adventure that will change their life somehow. They are the university students who thanks to the EEA Grants Scholarships will study next year in Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein… And some are already thinking about staying longer.
23.06.2014
Patricia studies Medicine in Universidad Complutense of Madrid and she has chosen Norway for her international adventure because of “the degree practical focus, unlike Spain”. Carolina studies Geology and due to her love for volcanos and geyser she was predestined to study in Iceland. 42 students of this University has been selected among 200 applications submitted to the NILS Programme.
Mario studies environmental engineering and sees clearly that his professional career may be in the powerful Norwegian petrochemical sector. For that reason, he is going to change –at least one year- Madrid for the cold As. Adrián, Mario, and Javi, as well as Mario, are studying in the Universidad Rey Juan Carlos of Madrid and all of them have their own reason to move from South to North: learning languages, getting to know something different and even personal growth. These are just a few stories behind the students who in August will set their course towards Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein to continue their studies.
NILS Science and Sustainability offer to Spanish degree and master students the opportunity to make stays in higher education institutions and in other institutions in Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein, based mainly on the Erasmus programme scheme. The donor country gives a complement so students could face the considerable outlay that implies studying in northern countries. For many students, it is a dream come true not only for the well-known Nordic education quality but also because their dreamed specialties are located in these countries. All of them are aware that international experience can be the crucial factor that allow them to stand out from the crowd and all of them recognized that without NILS it would have been impossible for them to go. It’s their great opportunity.
Jesús, Law student at Universitat Ramon Llull, expects that his stay in Norway enables him to make some useful contacts for his career. His classmate Javier explains that he applied for the Grant encouraged by some friends who studied in Norway and their experience was extremely positive. Alejandra and Laia highlight the differences between Spain and Norway regarding the educational system. Jordina, one of the 36 students from the Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona beneficiaries of the Grants, was especially attracted to the educational plan of the Bergen University where she will study Physics and Mathematics next year.
The Northern educational model is one of the world’s most prestigious. “There is a learner-centred approach, self-demanding and allowing greater flexibility”, explain one of the students. In a nutshell, greater student responsibility and more practice than theory.
All of the them also share a gloomy view about youth unemployment in Spain, so they wouldn’t hesitate to jump at the chance of staying longer in Norway. “In Spain, many people's potential is being undervalued and they are forced to leave”, complains Laura, Law student who will make an internship in a Norwegian company. Just in case, they are going to learn Norwegian.
11 Spanish Universities participate in EEA Grants NILS Science and Sustainability Programme, operated by Universidad Complutense of Madrid. A Programme who apart from the students scholarships, offer an opportunity to researchers. 4 million euros to promote education and mobility between North and South.