Lund University has found a particularly innovative and inspiring way to promote EUGLOH’s myriad learning opportunities —through a student-led podcast. The episode was led by Timothy Parker, Lund International Communication Officer and accompanied by two EUGLOH student ambassadors: Judit Ralbovszki and Lara Lüdecke. During the episode they share the opportunities EUGLOH offers to students and the enriching experiences they've personally enjoyed as ambassadors.
Lara from Germany and Judit from Hungary, both students of a Master’s in Public Health, talk about EUGLOH, answering the first and most evident question that an outsider from the Alliance could ask: “What is EUGLOH?”. As Lara explains, "It's an alliance of nine different universities across eight different countries in Europe... It therefore promotes collaboration between these universities." The Alliance fosters interdisciplinary collaboration and offers a wide range of activities and programmes.
For students eager to get involved, Lara and Judit highlight various avenues. Lara emphasises how "You don't have to come with a health-related background... anyone can take part in the different opportunities that EUGLOH offers. Students can participate in online courses, workshops, webinars, and even mobility activities”. Judit adds, "Nothing is mandatory, and everything is for free. You can cherry-pick what you're interested in".
To give proof of their examples, both ambassadors shared their unique lived experiences, which shed light on the enriching opportunities EUGLOH provides. Lara shares her experience participating in the Student Road Trip to Tromsø, Norway, where they connected with Local Student Boards and engaged in workshops. Similarly, they describe their trip to the European Student Assembly in Strasbourg, France, where they drafted policies and engaged in team-building activities. Even though the agenda was full of interesting workshops, there was still plenty of time left for team bonding activities. The participants had the opportunity to get to know each other better and strengthen existing connections through activities such as a visit to the fun fair “Hamburger Dom”, with its rollercoasters, traditional food and, of course, plenty of laughter.
Being student representatives, Lara and Judit play crucial roles in shaping EUGLOH's initiatives. They contribute to projects focusing on transversal skills, lifelong learning, and campus life. As Judit explains, "We discuss the activity proposals(...). We work things out together". Lara adds, "Another part of being a student representative is representing Lund University students(...). organising social activities".
Their enthusiasm for EUGLOH is evident as they share their journey of involvement. Lara highlights the opportunity to widen horizons and meet international peers. For students hesitant to join, Judit advises, "If you just go to EUGLOH website it can be a bit overwhelming because it uses a lot of fancy words, but I would advise you to not to get scared and just go for it... reach out to us. We're happy to answer your questions!".
Lara echoes her sentiments, encouraging everyone to explore EUGLOH's offerings, “I think that's also what forges these good relationships, the fact that you not only work together, but you also have these team building activities and dancing, eating, having fun together”.
Lara and Judit's testimonies paint a vivid picture of the transformative impact of EUGLOH on student life at Lund University. Their experiences serve as an invitation to students to embark on a journey of exploration, collaboration and personal growth through EUGLOH. As they briefly summarise it, "We hope you spike your interest... it's a really cool opportunity”.