Exchange at University of Bologna
Leaving Russia for my exchange period, I understood that it would be an unforgettable academic and life experience. I have always been attracted to Italy, its culture, rich history and calm European pace of life, however, I knew little about Bologna and the process of studying in Europe and did not assume that this half of a year would change my life forever.
Bologna is a city of students and, more importantly, a city for students. Apart from the fact that in the city center you can hardly find a building that is not the campus of the oldest university in Europe, there is a cozy co-working or a library for studying on every street (by the way, the city’s main library, located in the building of the commune of Bologna, is not less beautiful than many luxurious museums in Italy!). And although in the framework of university classes you have only lectures, you can always join in one of the academic projects for practical experience. For example, every six months, the University of Bologna holds a “Start Up Day”, where students can form initiative groups and work together on perspective ideas in various areas of our life - from developing apps to promote the works of not well-known artists and musicians to creating new eco-mechanisms for recycling clothes.
In addition, during the period of studying in Bologna, I gained a valuable skill of intercultural communication. One of my chosen subjects, “International marketing”, opened for me a wide variety of cultural characteristics of many countries, and while working on cases on this subject together with colleagues from Canada, Colombia, Belgium, Spain and Mexico, I realized the importance of understanding mentality and worldview of people of other nationalities in order to become a successful specialist in my field.
It is also worth noting that participating in exchange programs is an incredible opportunity to immerse yourself in the atmosphere and culture of another country. Firstly, the University of Bologna provides exchange students with the opportunity to learn Italian. Even if you do not have enough time to enroll, there are several free speaking clubs in Bologna where you can not only get the base of the language but also communicate with students from all over the world! Secondly, Bologna is one of the gastronomic centers of Italy, and food, as we all know, is an significant part of the rich Italian culture! It will always be delicious, you can be sure! In addition, the city has many museums, art galleries and picturesque churches, which are free of charge for university students, so you can not only enjoy the lively, student-like Bologna atmosphere, but also experience the real Italy.
There is one statement about Bologna that accurately describes the atmosphere of the city: “La Dotta, La Grassa, La Rossa” - “smart, fat, red”. Therefore, if you want to find a balance between studying abroad, travelling and cultural development, Bologna is definitely your city!