Nicola at the Radboud Summer School, Nijmegen

Wow!! Reflecting on my experience at Radboud University in Nijmegen, the Netherlands, I am both overwhelmed and incredibly grateful. It was an absolute privilege to attend the summer school programme with students from across the globe.

I would like to start this blogpost by encouraging other students, irrespective of where they are in their academic career, to apply for similar opportunities in the future. Having attended the summer school programme at later stage of my academic career, I wish I did it earlier. Apart from the academic component of the summer school programme, I learnt a lot about myself and met students from diverse backgrounds.

I was extremely excited when SU International notified me of my acceptance to attend the summer school programme at Radboud University, but I could never have dreamt how much it would mean to me.

Before departing to the Netherlands:

Before departing to the Netherlands there were quite a lot of arrangements to be made. However, with the assistance of the SU International, it was a brief and painless process. She always responded quickly and was willing to help when challenges were presented.

Based on SU International’s recommendation, I broke the process of getting ready, down into smaller, more manageable steps.

The first step was to establish contact with the summer school host university in order to request an official, signed letter of acceptance; arrange accommodation; and pay for additional activities that were included in the social programme of the summer school.

After which, I booked my flight ticket. I would recommend that students search for flights on Skyscanner and/or Travelstart. These websites compare flights from various service providers, and allows you to book the most affordable fight directly.

I was fortunate enough to receive a travel bursary from SU International. This enabled me to cover my traveling expenses, as well as the accommodation costs at Radboud University.

The third, and probably most important step, was to apply for a visa. Fortunately, I was already in possession of a valid Schengen visa. However, based on previous experiences, I believe the application process is straight-forward. I would however recommend that students take time to ensure that they have (signed and/or certified) copies of the ALL the documents listed on VFS Global’s website.

Once administrative tasks were completed I contacted friends who also studied in the Netherlands. They provided me with invaluable information. For example, which type of adaptor is needed; whether Wi-Fi is available in most public spaces; how the OV-chip card works; how reliable weather forecasts are etc. In light of this, I would recommend that students consult blog posts, or ask classmates of student who have attended summer school programmes for advice.

To conclude, I think the most important thing is to plan in advance. List all the tasks you need to complete as you have been accepted to attend the summer school programme, and if any uncertainties arise do not hesitate to contact the International Office. Before you know it you are about to board your flight to another country!

My experience at Radboud University:

I attended two summer school courses at Radboud University, An Introduction to Cognitive Neuroscience: From Molecule to Behaviour, and Positive Psychology: the Science Behind Flourishing Individuals and Organisations. Both courses were well-structured and informative. Classes ran from 09:00 to 17:00 daily, with sufficient tea and lunch breaks. We were a maximum of 25 students per course.

The Cognitive Neuroscience course comprised of five themes, namely: general; language and cognition; perception, action and control; plasticity and memory; and brain networks and neuronal communication. These themes were further divided into different sub-themes and relevant practicums. Each sub-theme and practicum was presented by knowledgeable lecturers and PhD students. I learnt a lot during this course as I had restricted knowledge about Cognitive Neuroscience beforehand.

The Positive Psychology course also comprised of five themes, namely: an introduction to positive psychology; optimism; strengths, flow, and mindfulness; interpersonal strengths for flourishing relationships (i.e. forgiveness, empathy, compassion, kindness and communication); and positive and flourishing organisations. Dr Rinka van Zundert, the course facilitator, presented the material in an easily understandable manner and regularly invited feedback from all students. This provided a platform for open dialogue and informal learning. In addition, she encouraged participation among students throughout the course by means of practical activities. The balance between theory and practice enhanced the learning experience.

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I would recommend both courses, however the Positive Psychology course stood out for me. Even though it may be helpful to have a background in the field of psychology I am confident that anyone can benefit from its content.

An added bonus of the summer school was the social programme. Radboud University ran a social programme from Sunday through to Saturday each week. The 7 events. These events included a welcome reception, sports evening, city tour, pub quiz, guest lecture and barbeque, closing ceremony, and daytrip.

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Even though participation in these activities are not compulsory, I would strongly recommend that students participate. These activities offer an opportunity to spend time with a diverse group of individuals from different countries. Reflecting on some of the interactions I had with fellow students reaffirms the value of such informal gatherings.

Personally, I did not attend the daytrip to the Open Air Museum in Arnhem and Den Bosch. Instead I planned a weekend to Bruges in Belgium, and decided to spend my last Saturday in Nijmegen itself.

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Nijmegen is an absolutely beautiful city. It is the oldest city in the Netherlands, and was first founded more than 2,000 years ago. Even though I had learnt a lot about Nijmegen’s history and important landmarks during the city tour, I enjoyed strolling through its streets on my last day in the Netherlands. I spent most of my morning at the triangular Grote Markt at the center of old Nijmegen. Thereafter I visited Stevenskerk. The church has an absolutely breathtaking view from the top – definitely worth the climb.

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Apart from my trip to Belgium over the weekend, I also visited Germany and France before the summer school. I would recommend that students consider doing some travelling before or after attending the summer school programme. Try to visit different places in the country you are attending a summer school programme at, and if at all possible travel to neighbouring countries. It definitely enhances the experience.

Returning to Stellenbosch University:

I had mixed feeling about returning to South Africa and Stellenbosch University. I had such a wonderful time in the Netherlands, filled with new people, places and perspectives, and would have loved to stay for longer. However, after arriving at Cape Town International and being greeted by Table Mountain I felt at home. Even though it was bittersweet to say goodbye to all the special people I met along the way, I felt inspired and energized to continue with my PhD degree in Industrial Psychology.

While attending the Positive Psychology course I met some individuals whose work is aligned with my research interests. I am hopeful that these connections may offer opportunities for international collaboration in the near future. With individuals I connected on a personal level, I hope to meet up with them in either their home country or South Africa.

During the last two weeks, friends, family members and colleagues often asked me what stood out most during my visit to the Netherlands. I found it difficult to single out one aspect of this experience. For me there were so many things that contributed to the positive experience I had. One thing is certain, my attendance of the summer school at Radboud University has reaffirmed my passion for traveling. For me, traveling, whether locally or abroad, is probably the most liberating and empowering experiences. I can already see the return on the time and money I invested to attend the summer school programme at Radboud University.

As mentioned, reflecting on my experience, I am overwhelmed and feel very grateful for the opportunity. I would therefore like to use this platform to thank the International Office of Stellenbosch University. This opportunity has proven invaluable to my academic and personal development. I met new people, saw new places and considered alternative perspectives. My horizons have indeed been broadened.

Based on the month I had, I regret not doing a summer school semester exchange earlier in my academic career and would like to encourage students to pursue international opportunities. Take the plunge. It is without a doubt worth it!