Andrea Cugini, incoming exchange student from our partner Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia in Italy
"I'm absolutely thrilled to embark on the incredible adventure of an exchange semester here at the HSLU Hochschule Luzern - School of Business in Lucerne. I came from the halls of the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, where I am studying the Master’s degree in Financial Analysis, Consulting, and Management in the “Marco Biagi” Economics department, and I wanted to enrich my study path by applying for an exchange semester here at HSLU.
This journey promises to be so much more than just an academic pursuit. It's a chance for me to dive into a vibrant new culture, to test my skills in a different academic environment, all while surrounded by the beauty of Switzerland's heartland.
I am attending courses from the Master’s degree in Banking and Finance in the beautiful setting of campus Rotkreuz, located in the canton of Zug. I really appreciate the teaching methods used here, which are more practice-oriented, with a lot of case studies, group work, discussions, and real-life examples. Additionally, being in a different classroom, in another country, and having the opportunity to meet new students from all over the world is simply priceless.
I would like to thank Professor Jillaine Farrar and the entire exchange program team for the warm welcome. They have made me feel at home since the first moment here in Lucerne!
Below are some photos taken by me from these first days."
Håkon Andreas Hyttedalen
Incoming Exchange Student from the Norwegian Unviersity of Science and Technology
“You are surrounded by the coolest, most accessible mountains in the world while experiencing really great education.”
Håkon Andreas Hyttedalen, an exchange student from NTTU Norway, shared with our Head of Exchange Program, Jillaine Farrar, his experiences during his exchange year at the Lucerne School of Business.
He started off the conversation by recommending that that all students make use of the opportunity to go on an exchange semester. In Lucerne, he said, he has enjoyed intercultural awareness, academic enrichment and wonderful experiences in nature. When he was not studying, Håkon Andreas Hyttedalen was exploring the abundance of ‘surrealistic hiking trails’ in the area. It was exactly this combination of ‘high-quality education in a pleasant environment with access to nature’ that led him to Lucerne. Indeed he went on to say that “you are surrounded by the coolest, most accessible mountains in the world while experiencing really great education”.
He chose most of his courses from our taught-in-English majors, but also challenged himself by taking a taught-in-German course in the spring semester after his German level had improved. The support and flexibility of the Exchange Program Team as well as the lecturers was much appreciated. The buddy program and the support with housing was not really used by Håkon Andreas Hyttedalen because he was very independent right from the start and made local friends immediately, but he commented that it is extremely helpful for incomings to have access to these services.
When asked whether he feels he has changed in any way over the past year, he replied that ‘spontaneously it feels like a no’, but he is sure that if we ask his friends back in Norway, we would hear about a few changes. The welcome weeks and the contact with local students all contribute to his very positive experience in Lucerne. He considers his exchange year to be a part of his ‘professional and personal growth’ and would definitely choose Lucerne again if he could turn back the clock.
And in case you are wondering, what his favourite Swiss food is…no surprises there…fondue.
‘Amazing’ is the word Håkon Andreas Hyttedalen used to sum up his exchange year at the Lucerne School of Business.
Thanks for choosing the Lucerne School of Business for your exchange year! It has been a pleasure having you study with us.
