It has been over two months since our student arrived in Oulu for this amazing journey in the PROMISE Master program. In this opportunity, we had a small talk with two of our students:
- Yanno-Ray Cahiles from the Philippines
- Veysel Furkan Genç from Turkiye
Yanno and Veysel have bachelor’s degrees in Mining and Metallurgical Engineering; both have some background working in the mining industry in their countries and were selected from over 200 candidates who applied to the Erasmus PROMISE program.
What made you choose the Erasmus program?
Yanno: Three years ago, most of my friends and colleagues were already had their master’s – SINREM, MESC & EMERALD to name a few, and I thought of looking for a program that would be a fit for me, my experiences and my interests – programs specifically related to plant design, so I browsed the EMJM programs and I saw PROMISE, I remember it was still in its first cohort that time, but it resonated with me and I didn’t consider any other program. My application was delayed, but here I am.
Veysel: I have always been curious about living in other countries since my childhood, so I have been searching for opportunities. Erasmus is a top-notch option for students to live and study in different countries. Moreover, I always want to learn about and observe other people’s lifestyles because I believe the world is far larger than we think. Erasmus provides this opportunity, as you can meet many people from all over the world.
How different is life in Finland from your country?
Yanno: The cost of living is quite high, but my scholarship will get me through. Other than that, the quality of life is better – the sense of security is there, and government services are comprehensive.
Veysel: I am from Turkey, so there is a huge difference between the two countries. First, this country is quiet, like a reading room in a library. People don’t want to make noise, even when talking with their friends in cafes or restaurants. Secondly, from a nature perspective, due to the large population in Turkey compared to Finland, we generally live among huge apartment buildings, while here you can find a forest or park within ten minutes. On the other hand, we enjoy small talk with people in our community, which makes you feel at home. Even if we are not that quiet, it sometimes makes me feel truly alive.
How do you feel about the courses at Oulu?
Yanno: There are a lot of courses that I wish to take as there are a lot of good courses out there, but I also want to think about my mental health and keeping a work-life balance. I do appreciate the teachers as they care about the students’ learning progress; I usually send them an email if I miss the class (and there’s usually recorded footage of the class) or if I have questions, they will answer me promptly.
Veysel: The way teaching at Oulu provides an opportunity to student totally focusonly on specific courses thanks to division of the semester into two periods, allowing you to concentrate on only the courses in each period. Also, most courses are recorded and uploaded to the system, providing the student either joins courses online or replays the part they don’t understand to learn better. Finally, lecturers have positive attitudes that also give me more focus on the course.