Studying down under
- Architectural Technology and Construction Management
After four semesters at UCN - University College of Northern Denmark, three students decided to try something new. They upped sticks for six months and moved to Melbourne to spend one semester of their Architectural Technology and Construction Management studies there.
A semester in Melbourne
This summer, Louise Bruun Jensen, Klaus Kirketerp and Simon Andreas Arnbjerg completed their 4th semester at UCN - University College of Northern Denmark. Opposite their fellow students, they have decided to spend their 5th semester abroad in Melbourne Australia at Holmesglen Institute of TAFE.
Holmesglen is an educational institution with more than 50.000 students. At Holmesglen they followed two courses that were both based on an approach that was quite different from what they were used to at UCN - University College of Northern Denmark.
“Actually there was no tuition. We were divided into groups and were given a so-called "learning trigger" a problem-oriented learning mechanism that we would analyse and work from. For each subject we had a tutor who would guide us when we needed help. We did not receive solutions to our problems but rather directions that we could go into. In that way we have worked incredibly independently compared to what we've been used to", says Simon Andreas Arnbjerg.
Challenges and self-discipline
At UCN - University College of Northern Denmark, Louise Bruun Jensen, Klaus Kirketerp and Simon Andreas Arnbjerg were used to showing up and spending all day at school. That is why suddenly having to plan their days on their own was a bit of a challenge to them.
“Tuition at Holmesglen was almost non-existing because independent studying was so important. Receiving tuition this way requires an incredible self-discipline and a great effort from the groups”, says Louise Bruun Jensen. Klaus Kirketerp immediately joins in about the high degree of independent work but at the same time he is also happy that we were forced to try new teaching methods and approaches.
“Problem-based tuition seems much more useful now that I have tried it myself. The independent learning process is very useful because it’s usually easier to remember things that you found out on your own. I think a combination of Danish teaching and the Australian learning process would be a really good process to get all students through.”
Simon Andreas Arnbjerg agrees. He feels that the challenges that this new work form has given him has made him grow. He also points out that the focus at Holmesglen has been different from what they’ve been used to at UCN. “We wouldn’t have learnt the things at home that we’ve learnt down here.”
The study programme is called Bachelor of Applied Science (Built Environment) and has a much wider approach to building and construction. Where the UCN Architectural Knowledge and Construction Management programme is targeted at the construction assignments we will be performing after graduation, the studies down here gave us a broad overview of the whole construction industry. It has definitely given me a new and wider approach to the construction industry”.
Good acquaintances and hospitable hosts
All three students have felt very welcome in Australia from day one. They have got an experience for life and they only have good things to say about their meeting the locals. Klaus Kirketerp says that the biggest surprise was the Australian people. “I had never imagined that they would be so kind and friendly.
The society in Melbourne is multicultural and EVERYBODY is welcome. It was really interesting and exciting to walk around the different neighbourhoods and see and meet the different cultures.
Danish Christmas lunch
Even though none of them has suffered from homesickness, they did set some time aside for maintaining relations with Denmark. This means that they have met with a group of Architectural Technology and Construction Management students from the Copenhagen academy of professional higher education, KEA.
“We did quite a few social things with them. For instance, they invited us to a fantastic, traditional Danish Christmas lunch, where the only things we didn’t have were liver paté and marinated herring,” says Simon Andreas Arnbjerg.
Studies applied in practice
He also tells us about their meeting with Kevin Hogan who used to study at UCN - University College of Northern Denmark and who was offered a job through a similar internship in Australia. “It was really exciting to hear Kevin Hogan talk about his job. It was nice to see how our study programme could be used internationally.”
An Australian adventure
Apart from the professional perspective, Louise Bruun Jensen, Klaus Kirketerp and Simon Andreas Arnbjerg would also like to point out that the visit to Australia was a great adventure in its own right. This means that they are focusing on seeing as much as possible of the great country.
They remark on a hot air balloon trip over Melbourne as one of the highlights. They are also looking forward to the last part of their stay when they will be driving around Australia in a rented car for a month.
