Students Return from Unforgettable Norway Exchange

Five students from Shetland College UHI have completed their Erasmus+ exchange to Norway, returning with confidence, new perspectives and a real taste of Norwegian culture. Six students from Vidaregaande Skule in Voss also completed their four weeks of work experience in Shetland.

Project Co-ordinator Leanne Gear: “We are delighted with this exchange. Our students have come back more confident and with increased employability skills in their chosen fields. The feedback from colleagues in Norway was excellent, with students made to feel very welcome to go back to Voss for work or pleasure. The group have certainly made the most of their time abroad.” 

Shetland College UHI has been running programmes with the Voss community since 2011, with students in fully funded work placements.  Local Construction students Jack Meadows, Josh Laing and Magnus Williamson worked in construction and manufacturing firms in Voss, Computing student Mary Work was based in an ICT department of a school and Health and Care student Courtney Robertson worked in a childcare placement. The students from Voss were placed at local electrical and ICT companies in Shetland.

The group kept up an excellent blog, including photographs of their time abroad, which can be found here: https://shetlandtovoss2019.home.blog/ .

Jack says “It has been one of the most inspiring and eye-opening experiences I have ever had. I’d encourage anyone eligible for the program to sign up and have a go, grab this opportunity with both hands!”

Josh says the whole experience was amazing:  “This is something I would highly recommend to future students interested in travelling and working abroad. The people I travelled with were a great laugh and I think we worked really well as a group.”

Mary agrees: “The people I got to work with were great and I really enjoyed my work placement working with computers.”

Although working full time, in their free time the students cruised the fjords, visited Bergen, went skiing, visited family, tried the local delicacy of sheep’s head, played volleyball with fellow students and went hiking, among other things.  They’ve gained vital work experience as well as learning about another culture.  Another exchange is planned for spring 2020.