Sometimes a single picture is enough to give life a completely new twist: In the case of Vitalina Konstantinidi from Finland, it was a photo of the Salzburg mountains taken by a fellow student who had just returned from his stay abroad in Austria. Vitalina did the same and decided to spend an Erasmus year at the Salzburg University of Applied Sciences. This not only enabled her to broaden her professional horizons and improve her English language skills within two semesters, but also to obtain two full degrees.
"I love the mountains, hiking and skiing, and above all I wanted to improve my English. As an engineer in the timber industry, I will need it every day, whether to gain more access to knowledge or to be able to work in an international context. Austria was the perfect choice for me," says Vitalina about her decision. "The opportunity to do a double degree was also a great motivation, which I was able to pursue thanks to the cooperation between Salzburg University of Applied Sciences and LAB University in Lahti."
Highlights and challenges
A highlight of her stay was the Green Little Circle project , where she not only gained a better understanding of circular architecture, but also improved her marketing skills. Together with other students, Vitalina travelled to Oldenburg in northern Germany to build a mobile classroom and exhibition space with participants from other university, made entirely from recycled materials. Her job, as part of the marketing team, was to create the corporate identity, positioning, mission and vision for the whole project. New territory for the wood engineering student, but one in which she quickly found her feet.
"It was extremely interesting for me, because although I'm an engineer, every project also needs marketing expertise to provide answers to certain questions. Who is the target group? What applications are possible? How much should the product cost? And we in particular, who offer new and more sustainable solutions with wood, have to assert ourselves against conventional products. We have a climate crisis and huge waste problems to which the construction industry can respond very well with new materials and concepts. At Campus Kuchl, I learnt what huge potential there is in the use of biogenic raw materials and the reuse of building materials. In this way, we can drive forward defossilisation and ultimately - in addition to a more sustainable construction industry - also significantly improve our quality of life."
In addition to the project work, Vitalina was also able to take advantage of a varied programme of courses at the Salzburg University of Applied Sciences. The courses ranged from an introduction to timber construction, international timber management, process control and biocomposite materials, a language course to data analysis and strategic management. "Kuchl is so much more than just wood! The topic of biocomposites in particular gave me a completely new perspective on my own discipline. I was also really inspired by my fellow students' mycelium-based materials, which were produced using shavings from the wood industry," says Vitalina.
Activities of all kinds
Vitalina also raves about the sporting and cultural opportunities in the region: "I visited so many lakes, went hiking in the mountains, went to classical concerts and even won a medal with my Salzburg floorball team. The International Office at FH Salzburg offered lots of great activities, and as I have a car, I was able to go on lots of trips with friends myself." She is certain that the new friendships and contacts with people from all over the world have broadened her horizons and heightened her awareness of intercultural differences; the world has "become smaller." She was also able to get to know Austria from a culinary perspective: "I sure did miss the typical Finnish rye bread, but I gained some new favourites, such as schnitzel, elderberry juice and, of course, the fantastic Mannerschnitte."
From a professional and personal perspective, she considers her stay to have been an absolute enrichment. She was able to complete the double degree within two semesters. With the additional qualification and improved language skills, she is now a sought-after specialist. She also feels that she has grown professionally thanks to the challenges and new inputs: "Over the past year, I have really learnt that as an engineer I have so many opportunities to change the world for the better. Now, I am looking forward to doing this in my professional life."
