For students from France Erasmus+ experience at UoM is unforttetable experience
Clement Daressi and Theo Ollivier, master's students at the University of Tours (France), have chosen the Faculty of Architecture of the University of Montenegro for their Erasmus + mobility program, where they are spending the winter semester of this academic year.
Upon hearing the suggestion from a professor at their home faculty to apply for the University of Montenegro, Clement and Theo inquired a little more about this "hilly country" and chose Montenegro as their Erasmus+ destination.
"I thought it would be nice to visit a country whose landscape photos we found on the internet are breathtaking," Theo said.
The arrival in Montenegro did not disappoint their expectations. The students were delighted with the beauty of the country and the cordiality of our people.
"The first thing that impressed me was the beauty of the landscape and the warm welcome," Clement said.
Having in mind that student mobility takes place in the complex circumstances caused by the coronavirus pandemic, it did not prevent Clement and Theo to enjoy their mobility.
"It was not difficult for us to adjust to life in Montenegro during the pandemic because the students were very pleasant and ready to help us. Also, we were not able to follow the news about the pandemic via television, so we were not upset by the bad news, " Clement and Theo said.
For Clement and Theo, mobility was a great opportunity to meet a new culture.
"People are very kind and friendly. Montenegro is a small country, which creates a feeling of closeness between people, so almost everyone knows each other," Clement said.
When it comes to similarities and differences in the organization of studies at the home university and the University of Montenegro, Theo and Clement note that teaching assistants at the University of Montenegro have a more important role in helping and advising students about the tasks and projects.
"Also, students have the opportunity to use the premises and work on their projects, both individually and in groups, which makes the work more interesting and playful," Clement added.
Students have a lot of free time to visit the tourist attractions that Montenegro has to offer.
"We spent our spare time not only on sightseeing, but also on many other activities such as swimming, hiking, and skiing," Theo said.
Throughout the mobility at the University of Montenegro, students enriched their academic knowledge.
"Thanks to the mobility at UoM, I learned much more about architecture, which gave me an insight into the new approach to the field of Urban Planning," Theo said.
For Clement, the experience of the exchange is of great benefit for personal development and future career.
“I became more independent and I learned to adapt to a different environment and culture. After the exchange, I can say that I am richer for an experience which is extremely important for my personal development and self-confidence," Clement said.
Clement and Theo think that all students should take the opportunity for a unique Erasmus+ experience that brings many acquaintances and opens the door to new opportunities.