Report from Köppel Celina

Introduction

Embarking on an Erasmus exchange at Windesheim University of Applied Sciences in Zwolle, Netherlands, promises a transformative experience filled with academic growth, cultural immersion, and unforgettable memories.

Zwolle

Zwolle, a charming city in the Netherlands, is known for its rich history, vibrant culture, and picturesque canals. Located in the province of Overijssel, it offers a blend of medieval architecture and modern amenities. Visitors and residents alike enjoy its lively markets, diverse culinary scene, and numerous festivals, making Zwolle a delightful place to live and explore.

Windesheim University of Applied Sciences

Windesheim University of Applied Sciences in Zwolle is a leading institution known for its innovative and practice-oriented education. It offers a wide range of bachelor’s and master’s programs, focusing on developing students’ professional skills through close collaboration with industries and research projects. The university’s vibrant campus and supportive learning environment foster creativity, critical thinking, and community engagement.

Program

I followed the “Web and Analytics” program in the ICT Department for five months during the summer semester. The program focuses on comprehensive web development, emphasizing good programming, infrastructure, and user experience optimization. It ensures corporate goals are met through effective marketing and user retention. Students gain practical experience by developing and marketing web applications in collaboration with clients.

My client was Windesheim itself, and the goal was to develop a “Student Progress Dashboard.” This web application allows students and teachers to continuously monitor academic progress throughout the semester.

For me, the program was like an internship. You are required to work 32 hours a week and have the opportunity to take 8 days off per semester. As a project group, you must organize everything independently, from scheduling working hours to arranging meetings with product owners. Each project group is assigned a project coach who discusses progress, problems, and group dynamics in weekly meetings. At the beginning, every team member attends workshops designed to develop professional skills, such as “Working with AI.”

In this program, you will learn how to self-organize, interact with clients, and improve your personal and professional skills.

Accommodation

In Zwolle, you have three options for student accommodations: The Hive, Talentenplein, and Leliestraat.

At The Hive, you live with three other students, who can be either international or Dutch. You share the kitchen, bathroom, and toilet but have your own spacious room with an additional washbasin.

In both Talentenplein and Leliestraat, you share a room with another person. The room includes a small kitchen and a bathroom with a toilet. If you are as lucky as I was, you might not have a roommate and will have the room to yourself (I lived in Talentenplein, which I highly recommend).

During my Erasmus, The Hive was the social hub where all the parties and gatherings took place. It was convenient because, in the flats with only international students, we didn’t disturb anyone, and there was plenty of space. If you want to socialize a lot, The Hive is the perfect place. However, all the accommodations are only 10 minutes apart by bike, making it easy to visit friends.

For anyone planning to do an Erasmus in Zwolle, I recommend arranging accommodation early, as there are not enough spots for everyone, and private housing can be very expensive. I suggest choosing your accommodation before the time slot opens and being ready to book immediately.

Student Life

Student life in Zwolle offers a lot. The “ESN Student Network” is very dedicated to organizing events for Erasmus students, especially at the beginning. In my semester, we had a welcoming party, game nights, a “Get to Know Zwolle” event with many challenges, and an excursion to another city. My personal highlights were the bar competitions and the prom at the end. During the bar competitions, each group came up with a theme and took over a bar for one night, with the group that made the most money winning the competition.

Besides the ESN activities, there is a party street in the city center, with the most well-known bar being “The Flying Horse,” where most events take place. Next to the party street, there is also an event location called Hedon.

Evaluation

Reflecting on my five months of Erasmus, I can confidently say that I experienced significant personal growth, especially in my social life. Erasmus offers countless opportunities to meet new people from various countries and immerse yourself in different cultures. Besides Dutch culture, I also got to know people from all over Europe, as well as South Korea and Mexico.

After studying in the Netherlands for five months, I’ve learned that Dutch education emphasizes practical teaching methods and project-based work. The interaction between teachers and students is notably different from Austria; hierarchies are minimal, and communication is very informal.

I believe the experiences I gained as a student will be invaluable in my own teaching career. Being open-minded, embracing new perspectives, and incorporating them into your usual practices is always beneficial, as there’s always room for improvement.

Did my personality change during this experience? I can’t say 100% yes or 100% no. However, I did push myself daily to step out of my comfort zone, and I believe I became a better version of myself. With this mindset, I had the best Erasmus experience I could have ever imagined.

So, if you are interested in doing an Erasmus, don’t think too much about it and just do it. You will not regret it.

Erasmus family Zwolle, photo is taken by Celina