Lutvo Sadikovic from Austria chose to spend his Erasmus semester in the capital of France. In addition to fulfilling his dream of a stay in Paris, the student from the Bachelor’s degree programme in Business Administration was able to improve his language skills and become familiar with new working and teaching methods.
Lutvo Sadikovic from Austria chose to spend his Erasmus semester in the capital of France. In addition to fulfilling his dream of a stay in Paris, the student from the Bachelor’s degree programme in Business Administration was able to improve his language skills and become familiar with new working and teaching methods.
Why did you choose this country and this university for your Erasmus semester?
While studying French at school, it was already clear to me that I wanted to visit Paris and spend some time living in this metropolis. With the offer from a partner university in Paris, I was able to put my plans into action and study in France. On the one hand, this was an opportunity for me to improve my language skills and, on the other, it was a chance to live in a major city and to gain valuable experience. I chose a French-speaking country because I wanted to focus on this language. In addition to English, French is a language that I would really love to be able to speak.
Lutvo Sadikovic in front of the Louvre in Paris
How did you prepare yourself for your Erasmus semester? How did the International Office team assist you in your preparations?
During my extensive search for accommodation, my language skills were already put to the test. I browsed the Internet for information on the partner university and the host country in relation to culture, life and leisure activities in Paris and France in general. As the International Office handled the application process, I was assisted in sending on my application documents to the partner university and received a great deal of support in relation to organizational aspects.
What did you look forward to the most? What was the greatest challenge?
Paris is a fascinating city with much to offer. This metropolis is a cultural melting pot, and there are always new things to experience. I wanted to benefit from this and was looking forward to putting my knowledge of French to the test and also to building on it. In addition, I was anticipating experiencing the varied city life in Paris and meeting other students who were also spending a semester abroad at this partner university. I was also looking forward to meeting people from all over the world. However, for all the advantages and opportunities to be found, there were also challenges, such as the French bureaucracy and administration – everything is a bit more laid back there, and the French take quite a long time to get things done. Thus, simple tasks, such as opening a bank account, take around two to three months.
Groupe École Supérieure de Gestion – Paris School of Management
How were you received at the partner university, and how were you assisted during your studies?
The partner university in Paris warmly welcomed the new exchange students through the staging of an orientation day, during which we were shown round the different campuses. During the year, there were also regular events organized by the administration or by various associations. However, problems, such as sudden changes to the course programme, had to be dealt with by the students themselves, and we were left to make our own arrangements when we required certain things.
What can you take with you from this time abroad that can help you personally or in your studies?
I particularly liked the city itself, due to the extensive range of leisure activities. As the French author Victor Hugo once said: “Paris means walking.” Today, however, this is no longer the case. Thanks to the cleverly devised metro system, basically any destination in and around Paris is within easy reach.
As I met many people from around the globe, I was able to gain insight into students’ various working methods. The lecturers’ teaching methods and the way things were structured were also new to me.
Furthermore, in Paris it is easy to become acquainted with representatives of renowned companies through trade fairs and lectures, which are organized on a regular basis. I was thus able to broaden my horizons and to build up a network of contacts. These companies are mostly located in the vicinity of the Euronext stock exchange and in the business district La Défense, and they are happy to provide students with insights into the relevant fields.
Pont des Arts
The support of my acquaintances and lecturers is something that will be invaluable especially for my studies, as I can always contact them, should I have any questions. I learnt a great deal about the French economy and have already been able to gain experience and knowledge relevant to my focus area.
Through my experiences during the semester abroad, I hope I can, to a certain degree, adopt the laid-back attitude of the French in order to keep a cool head in certain situations related to my studies or personal life.
What recommendations would you offer to students at the University of Liechtenstein who are planning an Erasmus semester?
I recommend that students start their preparations and search for accommodation as early as possible, as Paris is very expensive and suitable accommodation is hard to find.
They should also know that sudden changes and rather slow organizational processes are not uncommon in France, but can easily be overcome by demonstrating flexibility and being well prepared.
Lutvo Sadikovic
- Home country: Austria
- University of Liechtenstein degree programme: Bachelor’s degree programme in Business Administration
- Semester: third
- Resident of: Feldkirch
Erasmus semester
- Country: France
- Partner university: Groupe École Supérieure de Gestion – Paris School of Management
- Number of semesters: one
- Type of accommodation: host family