Student Voices

COIL gave me the chance to meet people from another continent, and I realized how much we can learn from each other.
— [Student]

I feel more confident now working in international teams. It was like a study-abroad experience online.
— [Student]

First of all, I've learned to cooperate in an international team. [...] Moreover, it was a good opportunity to improve my English language because I had many opportunities to speak. Actually I didn’t speak English very often, only once a week in my english classes. [..] It is a beautiful feeling when you know that you can get along with almost anyone. I also learned about new online tools that are extremely useful and I will certainly use them in the future. I also learned new information about my partners' cities. The most interesting in these cities was the contrast between them. [...] I'm really happy with the benefits I have derived from participating in this project.
— [Polish Student, Spring 2020]

I've [...] learnt that even if there are some adversities, you can't give up. There is always a solution. [...] It is thanks to the problems that arise and are encountered along the way that we can really gain something.
— [Polish Student, Spring 2020]

Although this project has made me think of how privileged Sweden is, it has also made me think of how we often tend to think less of other countries outside Scandinavia, and this Virtual Exchange has really made me become aware of this “one sided story” [...] For example, the controverisal abortion law in Poland, or the ecnomical issues in Argentina. Obviously, these issues do not define these countries [...] This Virtual Exchange helped to break those preconceptions. When working together in an international setting, it’s easier to see your own country from a different  perspective as well.
— [Swedish Student, Spring 2020]

This crossing of perspectives is extremely rich because it is where the cultural differences are found, what is the norm for one country, is not for the other [and] our economic realities are very different. Thus, proposals that looked very viable in Poland and Sweden ... we thought that in Argentina with 40% of the population below the poverty line, they are nothing more than a dream. Finally, we agreed to target sustainable fashion since clothing is something that connects the three countries and we agreed on different details of the campaign.
— [Argentinian Student, Spring 2020]

I feel free to think creatively to try new things and fail without the fear of consequences. I feel more flexible and adaptable to changing conditions, I learned to work in an international team, despite the cultural differences, I am able to effectively achieve my goals, I am able to react faster in case of crisis situations, I think my english is now definitely more fluent.
— [Polish Student, Winter 2021]

During our first video conference, I wasn't really able to talk with the other students so it was good that I had the chance to do it in the end. I think I felt some sort of unity with everyone. It’s very hard to explain it but in the end it really felt like a virtual exchange. It was funny how I felt a bit emotional after every last meeting.[...]  I think that’s something I learned that you can create real connections even if you’ve never met the person face-to-face.
— [Finnish Student, Spring 2020]

The last week is over! How sad. I had the last team meeting with the „Big Hero 6“ family. We had quite a nice chat and I felt how our relationships to each other had changed over the last six weeks. We were able to have normal conversations about daily life, laugh together, but also be critical and work together. We all decided to keep in touch and maybe even meet each other one day! We definitely want to hold another meeting and drink some beers together, according to our video guide we created.
— [Dutch Student, Spring 2020]