Name: Yuta Kitazawa

Graduate School of Education (Professional Degree Program)

Study Abroad Period: January 2024 - January 2025

Host University: Uppsala University, Sweden

１．University where I studied

Uppsala University, where I had an exchange program, is the oldest and most prestigious university in Sweden. The campus is a blend of historic and modern architecture, with notable buildings such as the Gustavianum and the Carolina Rediviva Library. Speaking of culture, Uppsala University has a quite unique tradition of student organizations called "Nation." Each nation has its own name based on the name of the cities in Sweden. The nations have such massive power that they even have housing for students, pubs, scholarships, and so on. I found the student life at Uppsala University very different compared to the one at Shinshu University.

２．Study

In the Faculty of Education, they offered us a variety of classes. From the courses I took, I learned academic theories and practical knowledge through discussions with international classmates. Especially, Bourdieu's theory of capital gave me a new perspective to interpret modern educational issues not only as a matter in the classroom solely but as a matter of the system and how it affects and shapes society.

Regarding the structure of the courses, there are two kinds of classes in the course. One is lectures, classes to get input about academic facts from lecturers. The other is seminars, spending most of the time on discussion with classmates about the academic topics you learned from lectures in order to deepen your idea about it. The seminars helped me know the educational situation in other countries and use an academic framework to reflect on my own experiences.

3.　Living

When it comes to leisure on the weekend, there are a lot of things you can do.

In the first semester, I dedicated myself to football and futsal. I formed a team with other exchange students and signed up for a Sunday league. Although my team got only a few wins there, it was an unforgettable experience for me.

Other than that, hiking is also a famous activity. Around 70% of the land area is covered by forests, so there are hiking courses everywhere. In the summer, my friends and I tackled four days of hiking in central Sweden near the border with Norway. We came across heavy snow and a strong wind that could blow us away, but beautiful nature and our cohesiveness motivated us towards the completion of the hike.

Since classes are not so often, you can try a lot of activities with your friends.

4. 　What I gained

The most valuable thing I got through this opportunity was friendship with international students. Without them, I would not have been able to enjoy my student life this much. The experience of studying and hanging out with them will be a memory for the rest of my life. I would like to keep in touch with them, and hopefully make a reunion in the future.

I also learned how to adjust to the new environment and deal with stress. When I arrived in Sweden, I felt depressed because of anxiety about living in another country, but again my friends helped me recover from it.

5.　Advice

Don't be afraid to get out of your comfort zone! Spending your time in a completely new environment gives you a lot of insight, and enables you to know about yourself more!