Study abroad testimonials

I can’t even pinpoint where to start but my feeling of gratitude is overflowing, and I think it always will be. I’m truly grateful for the amazing people; friends I met and made along the way, this whole student exchange wouldn’t have been the same if I didn’t meet all of them. I’m grateful for the lessons learned, solitude enjoyed, and stories shared. I feel beyond blessed to have gotten the chance to meet more parts of myself, I didn’t even know existed. Up until now, it still feels like a dream that I’ve gotten the opportunity to study in Stockholm and that I visited other countries in Europe that I’ve always wanted to see! Words cannot describe this beautiful journey that I was in, more so of my own growth. I’ll forever bring these sweet Swedish memories and embarked adventures in Europe, wherever I go. From the bottom of my heart, I’d like to thank north2north and my home university (Yukon University), for this wonderful opportunity. It truly was an adventure of a lifetime!

Going on this exchange broadened my understanding of how a learning institution could provide academic and student supports. It was especially inspiring to visit the Sami University and see how their institution was empowering and strengthening their Indigenous culture. I'm very grateful to have had this opportunity and have been applying some of these progressive teachings to my University.

Visiting UiT in Tromsø, Norway and University of Umeå, Sweden was truly a trip of a lifetime. I made some life-long professional and personal contacts that will enhance the work that I do at YukonU. Learning about other Teaching and Learning centers was very worthwhile for my work at YukonU and I believe that both YukonU and the partner institutions will benefit from the relationships and information sharing that occurred. I felt professionally rejuvenated after my trip and am excited to implement some of the interesting initiatives that I learned out. This trip will help to move Teaching and Learning at YukonU onto new and exciting ideas and projects.

I had an incredibly warm welcome by all the faculty and staff at UiT. I developed connection and contacts for future collaborations in northern health teaching and research.

I had an excellent time at the Stockholm Resilience Centre! It was a great experience to see work practices in another institution and make connections with those working on similar research projects. I hope to be able to collaborate with them on a comparative research project in the future! A highlight was getting to participate in the "speed talks" held at their all staff meetings on Mondays - they've built a vibrant research community and culture of sharing.

My experience in Tromso, Norway was amazing! I can only say good things about the country and people who live there. Unfortunately the weather wasn't the best and outdoor activities would get cancelled, but the University has so many opportunities to meet international students and are supportive. My highlight during my stay in Norway would be getting to know my roommates at the dorm I stayed in and completing my clinical placement at the hospital. It was an amazing experience at the hospital which I will never forget.

While hesitant to leave my hometown and country, I am immensely grateful I took the opportunity to study in Rovaniemi, Finland. Studying abroad gave me insight into the Finnish way of life, Sami People's history, reindeer herding and of course, sauna culture. You learn so much about yourself and where you come from when you experience a new culture. Studying abroad is stepping outside of your comfort zone. Once you do that, the possibilities are endless. You will eat amazing foreign food, go to places you never knew existed, and build relationships that will last a lifetime. I cannot stress enough how pivotal this opportunity was not only for my academic career but for my personal growth and development. I highly encourage anyone considering it, to take the leap and study abroad!

It was a fantastic experience overall. Meeting international students from all over the world enriched the semester even more. Learning about other cultures was mind-opening. It was a healthy lifestyle, and access to Nature was very close of access. The teachers there were top quality. They knew what they had to teach, and it was interactive. We did a lot of outdoor activities, which is part of Frilustliv (A Norwegian way of living). I really recommend it.

The experiences I have gained from participating in the North2North program will forever be in my heart. I have met so many amazing people from all other world, and have proved to myself how capable I am. This was a leap of faith for me, to say the least. I am proud of myself for having the courage to move to a different country, without speaking their language, and have come out a better person. The knowledge I have gained from Norway can never be taken away, and for that, I am extremely grateful. I had the best time, and as one of my amazing Norwegian instructors always said, to do things with a smile on my face.

Getting to see the stuff that I had not found, in my hours of research. And I will say being at a place is very different from reading about it. Some of the highlights that played in loop in my head from this time period were learning more about the Sami people, the staple architecture of Sweden and trying Glogg. As well as that, this was the time I was introduced to a variety of different people who gave me even more perspectives on Sweden. Moreover, I had the incredible luck of having my exchange overlap with the announcements and celebrations of the nobel prize awards. The memory of walking the city art exhibition in tribute to the winners with my friends is a memory I feel I will hold on to for a prolonged period of time. I would definitely recommend the north2north to anyone reading this testimonial. I had so many great experiences and a lot of time for my own character building.

I was not sure what to expect from my exchange, I had a lot of contact with the hosts in the two Universities that I was to attend but you never know what you are in for. Now that I am back, I couldn't have had a better experience or better hosts. You could get a lot of the information from Google but there is nothing more enriching than emerging yourself in another culture, meeting people that are doing similar jobs to you and getting the nuances of an institution. Not only did I get to discuss the similar programs that we offer, services for students but similar issues that we face, a world away from one another. Going into the exchange without a true knowledge of what I was in for I would say that it couldn't have been more successful. The people I met with were so knowledgeable, kind and welcoming. I feel like I have come away with so much enthusiasm for what is ahead. There are so many students and staff that are interested in perusing an exchange and I only have excitement for these prospects.

I would highly recommend a N2N staff exchange to my colleagues throughout the UArctic Network, as the opportunity enabled a rich and meaningful exchange with the host institution. Aurora College staff prioritized my visit, made time for me in their schedules, provided a very warm, inclusive welcome and ensured my goals for the exchange were met. The learning outcomes were invaluable and could not have been achieved had we only had the chance to connect via Teams rather than in person.

Early Learning and Childcare studies on study aboard program University of Umeå , Sweden I’m truly grateful for the amazing people; friends, Educators, and everyone that put so much effort into making this whole experience an amazing one. Going on this trip has expanded my knowledge on how the early education system works in the Scandinavian countries. I have learnt many practices that I have brought back to my instructors and institute. I am truly honored to have been able to visit, learn about their Indigenous Sami culture and the challenges they have overcome in revitalizing their languages. Thanks to the North2North program and my home institute Aurora College located in Yellowknife I was able to have an experience of a lifetime. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for this wonderful opportunity.

The opportunity this exchange gave myself and my family was both life-affirming and challenging. As a youth I wanted to participate in a student exchange, but finances were a significant barrier. As an adult and single parent, I considered my opportunity to experience education overseas had passed. On a whim I attended an information session for the north2north exchange and learned about the ‘non-traditional exchange participants’ as a factor in the selection criteria. After many questions which my exchange coordinator Faye Canty patiently answered, I decided to apply and was both pleasantly shocked and slightly overwhelmed when I was chosen to be a participant, as the experience would also include my children. This exchange experience has redirected the goals for both me and my family. We were immersed in another culture that also shared a northern experience of life, but witnessed and experienced how those challenges were met in unique and different ways. This has altered the way I see my own future as a social worker and advocate in my home community and the Yukon. For example, I gained knowledge and experience with how well the Swedish culture nurtured creativity and safe spaces for youth. I was also able to contribute new perspectives at my exchange university/community and often challenged the views, not only of my fellow classmates but also instructors, on their own experiences, and biases, especially regarding Indigenous land rights and environmental concerns with sustainable tourism. For my children, the challenge of living and learning in a new environment was stressful at first but has helped them grow in patience and even given direction for my eldest who now plans to attend Yukon University and apply for her own exchange experience. I cannot stress enough that this opportunity, to consider exchange applicants outside of the usual demographic, is such an opportunity for not only the participants, but for the northern communities from which they come from. As an adult student, with my previous experiences in life, work, and education, I feel I have the drive and ambition to take this new knowledge and implement these ideas in ways that traditional exchange students (often with years of education and learning the ropes of government/career and work culture still ahead of them) may not consider. That this particular exchange included my family was almost a 3 for 1 deal in educational opportunities, as this experience has also altered the way my children view the northern world and their place in it.

Taking a nursing clinical semester abroad was challenging yet rewarding. Being in a new country where the main language is not English brought me out of my comfort zone. However, I appreciate the experience because it improved my intercultural communication and adaptability skills. I spent time on speciality units regarding the heart and lung, which helped me understand the Norwegian health care system and the roles of the nurse. I had the opportunity to hike, try new foods, meet some great people, and visit some extraordinary places. It was overall an amazing, once in a lifetime experience I will never forget!

As an Inuvialuk student who attended the Indigenous Governance Degree program at Yukon University online for three years, my participation in the North-to-North student exchange program was one of the few in person learning experiences I was able to have, so I am very grateful that with the support of my family, and the coordination between the Environmental Impact Screening Committee, Yukon University faculty, and my sponsor Trojer in Norway, I was able to plan and coordinate this on short notice. Being a student from the Inuvialuit Settlement Region, I was seeking an educational and cultural learning experience that could benefit both myself and my region, as we are now active reindeer managers. Even though I participated in a student exchange outside of the regular in-take period and for a shorter time than usual, I was still able to meet all the learning objectives I had. I travelled to Tromsø, Norway from my home in Inuvik, Northwest Territories to study and immerse myself in reindeer husbandry education and the programs offered by UiT – The Arctic University of Norway. My goal was to make connections with the staff and students, to study their literature, and to see if the creation of future education and training program opportunities and exchanges were possible between the Saami and Inuvialuit. During my visit, I was able to meet and have lunch with faculty members to discuss current programming and opportunities, explore reindeer literature in both an internal office archive and the university’s public library, and explore around the beautiful areas of Tromsø with my sponsor Trojer. Overall, this experience has taught me that there are many parallels between Saami and Inuvialuit culture, and there is a strong possibility for Inuvialuit students and reindeer herders to study here, and vice-versa, since the herd we have in the western arctic came directly from this area of Norway, so there is a historical connection that can be built upon if both sides want to pursue this type of cross-cultural learning in the future.

As a participant in a North2North staff exchange, my overall experience was enriching and transformative. The program provided a unique opportunity to engage in professional development while immersing myself in a new cultural and academic environment. Working alongside researchers and professors from different backgrounds and perspectives broadened my horizons and encouraged me to think outside the box. The exchange allowed me to contribute my expertise to the host institution while also learning valuable insights and approaches from their practices. Beyond the professional growth, the personal connections I made during the exchange were invaluable, fostering friendships and a deeper appreciation for education and research in the Arctic. Overall, the North2North staff exchange was an unforgettable experience that not only enhanced my skills as a professional but also enriched my understanding of the Arctic.

For almost a decade, I have been liaising and instructing international nursing student exchanges. Specifically, each year two Bachelor of Science in Nursing students from Aurora College go to Tromsø, Norway and shortly thereafter, two Bachelor of Nursing students from the Arctic University of Norway (UiT) come to Yellowknife for practice courses. The opportunity to do a site visit at UiT May 2023 supported in part by north2north was an invaluable experience for me; being in-person in real time for a whole week provided a wonderful opportunity to support the existing partnership. There was networking and relationship building as well as future planning including collaborative research projects. Moreover, my own “toolkit” of knowledge not only as an international coordinator and instructor for students whilst abroad, but also as a nurse and researcher were enhanced with my UiT visit; I continue to reflect on how the things I learned can/will be integrated into my work in a good way. I am grateful to north2north and my employer – the GNWT – for supporting my trip.

I participated in a N2N Faculty Exchange and traveled to Umeå, Sweden to take part in the Living in Landscape (LiLa) Summer School: an intensive summer school organized collectively between the University of Lapland, Umeå University, Nord University, and UHI Shetland. There were about twenty PhD and Master’s students in attendance. Much of the program focussed on students and faculty getting to know Umeå and the High Coast of Sweden. We visited the studio spaces of the Faculty of Arts Education in Umea University, and the Västerbotten Museum in Umea before we carpooled to the Swedish High Coast. Each day of the summer school was programmed with a hike, a walk, or a tour of one of the region’s many artist-run-centres, art studios, or folk art museums. In the evenings a team of students representing their home countries cooked national dishes for the entire group, this was certainly a highlight of the experience! Upon our return to Umeå, I was able to attend the graduation exhibition for Umeå University’s undergraduate architecture program and the MFA graduation exhibition opening hosted by the Bildmuseet contemporary art museum.