I am Diyar, a student from Kazakhstan. In 2019, I moved to Tallinn – the city known for its emerging startups and unicorns – to pursue my bachelor’s degree in Software Development and Entrepreneurship at the Estonian Entrepreneurship University of Applied Sciences (EUAS).
During my first week at EUAS, we attended a workshop about the Erasmus+ exchange programme. During the initial days, EUAS also organised a study tour to Helsinki. Both these instances made me realise the importance of having a learning experience in a different city. One of the most significant advantages of an exchange program is to have a life experience that gives you a worldview. It is an excellent opportunity to immerse into the culture of a new place and get exposure to different environments. I had decided that I wanted to apply to the Erasmus+ programme at the end of my first year. Unfortunately, I had to change my plans due to COVID-19. Owing to the pandemic, countries started implementing lockdowns, and universities transitioned to online learning. The pandemic and the uncertainty, which were both valid reasons, prevented me from applying. Tallinn provides a great environment to stay focused on studies and experience excellent student life. However, since I joined EUAS, I’ve been curious to find out if there’s any chance that I won’t lose this opportunity. Eventually, I got inspired to apply for the Erasmus+ programme and see what the outcome would be.
I applied to study at one of the two partner universities of EUAS:
- UC Leuven-Limburg (UCLL), Leuven, Belgium, and
- IADE-U Institute of Art, Design and Enterprise – University (Instituto de Arte, Design e Empresa), Lisbon, Portugal
However, my heart was more toward Portugal. Although language was a crucial factor in making the decision, English is widely used in Portugal. I took advantage of the fact to visit Lisbon, Portugal, for my Erasmus+ exchange year, and I have spent the last academic year studying at IADE-U. The course here has been entirely taught in English. I was the only Erasmus+ student in the group and two international students. All other students were locals. The project work that was required of me while I was a student at IADE-U was a new experience for me. It needed us to incorporate every subject that was covered during the semester for students to demonstrate their understanding.
In recent times, Portugal has also become a hotspot for digital nomads and expats, just like Tallinn. Two Estonian unicorns, Bolt and Pipedrive, have also chosen Lisbon to open their offices.
Although it always feels good to return where it all started, back home, I had an fantastic time, and I would strongly urge anyone considering doing a student exchange program to go ahead and do it – use the Erasmus+ opportunities to get a different academic, cultural, and life experience- you won’t regret it!