Finding Housing in Glasgow – Tips from GLOCAL Cohort VI Students

This article was written by and originally appeared on the student-ran GLOCAL Experience blog. You can view the original article here, and make sure to keep up-to-date with the GLOCAL Experience for a greater insight into life as a GLOCAL student. 

The GLOCAL Experience asked some of the current cohort VI students to share their experiences of finding housing in Glasgow with the hope their answers will help you navigate the housing market and find your home away from home for the semester in Glasgow!

You can use the following University of Glasgow links to find more information on University of Glasgow Postgraduate Accommodation, types of accommodation, and postgraduate advice. You can also find advice from the Student Representative Council (SRC), here

Note: The GLOCAL Consortium values our student and alumni communities enormously but it’s important to note that the content of the GLOCAL Experience website and social media accounts do not in any way represent the official view or position of the Consortium or any of the Consortium partner universities.


Clara

Where are you from: Germany

What websites/methods did you use to find accommodation: I mostly used SpareRoom.

When did you start looking for housing: April 2022

When did you secure housing: May 2022

What kind of housing did you have?: En-suite room with shared kitchen in private student dorm (UniteStudents Blackfriars)

Where in Glasgow were you located? How long did it take you to get to school?: My place was in the Merchant City and a 25 minute bike ride from campus

If you could change one thing about your search or give someone your biggest piece of advice, what would it be?: The dorm staff were very slow with finding a replacement tenant for my room and that was stressful. Don’t hesitate to keep annoying them to hurry up if you’re in that situation!

Yaquelín

Where are you from: Cuba

What websites/methods did you use to find accommodation: I used SpareRoom, Facebook Groups without any luck. I found my place thanks to a Cuban Erasmus friend who stayed there the previous year, and talked with the owner on my behalf.

When did you start looking for housing: June 2022

When did you secure housing: August 2022

What kind of housing did you have?: One bedroom in a house share with two other UofG students

Where in Glasgow were you located? How long did it take you to get to school?: West End, 10 min walk from the University

How much did you pay for your housing per month?: 500£

If you could change one thing about your search or give someone your biggest piece of advice, what would it be?: Be careful with scams, they are very common while looking for accommodation. For me, the most helpful thing was the support of my friend, I reached her for advice and guidance. Use your friends, they are your best allies.

Era

Where are you from: Kosova

What websites/methods did you use to find accommodation: SpareRoom/Word of mouth

When did you start looking for housing: August 2022

When did you secure housing: September 2022

What kind of housing did you have?: A two bedroom apartment, with one kitchen and a bathroom

Where in Glasgow were you located? How long did it take you to get to school?: I was located in the city center, a three minute subway to school

How much did you pay for your housing per month?: 1000£

If you could change one thing about your search or give someone your biggest piece of advice, what would it be?: Have an idea of what it is that you want, then ask as many people as you can. If you want a student accommodation, then start in early June (apply as soon as the application is open).

Kwamnandi

Where are you from: South Africa

What websites/methods did you use to find accommodation: Unite Students accommodation

When did you start looking for housing: July 2022

When did you secure housing: August 2022

What kind of housing did you have?: Bedroom in shared flat with other students

Where in Glasgow were you located? How long did it take you to get to school?: City Center near Buchanan bus station, it took me 45 mins (subway/bus) to get to university.

How much did you pay for your housing per month?: 600£

If you could change one thing about your search or give someone your biggest piece of advice, what would it be?: Search early so you have more options

McKim

Where are you from: Canada/United States

What websites/methods did you use to find accommodation: I used SpareRoom and Facebook Groups/Marketplace

When did you start looking for housing: June 2022

When did you secure housing: August 2022

What kind of housing did you have?: I was in Havannah House, a student accommodation where I had a room and a private bathroom, and a shared kitchen with eight other students.

Where in Glasgow were you located? How long did it take you to get to school?: I was in Merchant City, it took me about 45 minutes by Train + Subway to get to school.

How much did you pay for your housing per month?: 720£/month (But because I signed up last minute I had to pay the four months upfront…)

If you could change one thing about your search or give someone your biggest piece of advice, what would it be?: If you are looking on the private market, you should keep track of the market early on to get a general idea of the price ranges, but do not pay yet for the services until a month out from the start of the school year.(Like SpareRoom premium, which you need if you want to snag something on there). I wasted time + money paying early when there were no accommodations available for the fall yet.

If you want to do student accommodation from private companies there are a handful of companies in Glasgow that you can book through (Havannah House, Unite Students, Collegelands etc) but you have to book with them early (I think they open registration for the 2023/2024 academic year in May or June).

Also, if a student accommodation is offered by UoG/GLOCAL TAKE IT. The first email that was sent out I ignored and regretted; I had many more months of stress, fruitless searching, and lost money as a result! The second email sent out in late August I accepted in a second (and by that point everyone was desperate; I heard through the grapevine that only the people who answered within 4 minutes got rooms). I have 0 regrets for doing student accommodation, the market is tough.

Francisco

Where are you from: Mexico

What websites/methods did you use to find accommodation: I went straight to the student accommodation they offered us from the Master’s, Unite Students

When did you start looking for housing: June 2022

When did you secure housing: July 2022

What kind of housing did you have?: One bedroom with private bathroom in a 5 bedroom floor with shared kitchen at a student accommodation

Where in Glasgow were you located? How long did it take you to get to school?: I was in the city center, it took me 30 minutes to get to school: 15 minutes walking to Buchanan Street and 15 minutes riding the subway to Hillhead

How much did you pay for your housing per month?: 621 £

If you could change one thing about your search or give someone your biggest piece of advice, what would it be?: If you need to secure practical and convenient housing, the student accommodation is limited and you have to hurry to secure one but it is a great option. If you are more flexible, however, I later found out people were paying similar to what I was paying in much, much nicer apartments near the university by looking at the private market (mostly negotiating with landlords they found via Airbnb).

Ping-Yi

Where are you from: Taiwan

What websites/methods did you use to find accommodation: I used Spareroom and Facebook groups like Taiwanese in Glasgow

When did you start looking for housing: May 2022

When did you secure housing: August 2022

What kind of housing did you have?: One bedroom with a live in landlord in an apartment

Where in Glasgow were you located? How long did it take you to get to school?: I was located in the East part of Glasgow, near Glasgow green and Barrais Market. It’s a 10 minutes walk to Bridgeton train station. So I usually take a train to Partick station then take the subway to the nearest stop next to school. In total about 45 minutes-1 hour to get to school

How much did you pay for your housing per month?: 425£ per month (including water and internet), 75£ for electricity per month

If you could change one thing about your search or give someone your biggest piece of advice, what would it be?: I would’ve started searching from April

Leilt

Where are you from: Ethiopia

What websites/methods did you use to find accommodation: After exhausting all those apps/websites, I tried searching facebook groups for Ethiopians in Glasgow/ Ethiopians in Scotland and I found someone who knew someone that had a spare room to rent.

When did you start looking for housing: June/July 2022

When did you secure housing: Mid-August 2022

What kind of housing did you have?: One bedroom in a house with a family

Where in Glasgow were you located? How long did it take you to get to school?: I was in the south (Gorbals). It took about 45 min by bus to get to school

How much did you pay for your housing per month?: Around 300£ (I got so lucky)

If you could change one thing about your search or give someone your biggest piece of advice, what would it be?: I wish and really hope that Glasgow uni or GLOCAL would provide AFFORDABLE student housing. A piece of advice for you guys would be: 1. Try to look for an apartment with other GLOCAL students and 2. If money isn’t that of an issue for you, secure the student residence that GLOCAL suggests before it gets full. GOOD LUCK 🙂

Editor’s note: When Leilt says she got so lucky she got VERY VERY lucky. Unless you find a family arrangement such as this with someone from your culture/background who will give you such a discount, do not expect to find something around 300…Ping-Yi above and Ekaterina below had similar luck with their prices for the same reason. 

Louna

Where are you from: France/Japan

What websites/methods did you use to find accommodation: SpareRoom

When did you start looking for housing: March 2022

When did you secure housing: May 2022

What kind of housing did you have?: A 3-bedroom apartment

Where in Glasgow were you located? How long did it take you to get to school?: Govan – 10 minutes to school (by subway)

How much did you pay for your housing per month?: Around 500£

If you could change one thing about your search or give someone your biggest piece of advice, what would it be?: In Europe, the housing market can be very competitive so if a landlord replies with a favorable response, it is required to secure the apartment as soon as possible.

Ana Francia

Where are you from: Mexico

What websites/methods did you use to find accommodation: Spareroom and FB groups

When did you start looking for housing: Early July 2022

When did you secure housing: September 2022

What kind of housing did you have?: One bedroom in a shared flat w/other 7 students

Where in Glasgow were you located? How long did it take you to get to school?: West End and it took me less than a 10 min walk to get to school

How much did you pay for your housing per month?: Around 650£

If you could change one thing about your search or give someone your biggest piece of advice, what would it be?: Contact your classmates earlier so you can help each other.

Ekaterina

Where are you from: Russia

What websites/methods did you use to find accommodation: SpareRoom, Russian community group in Facebook

When did you start looking for housing: June 2022

When did you secure housing: Late September 2022

What kind of housing did you have?: One bedroom in 2-bedrooms apartment (living with landlord)

Where in Glasgow were you located? How long did it take you to get to school?: Southside (close to Kinning Park metro station), it took me 45 min by walking or 30 min by subway to go to Uni

How much did you pay for your housing per month?: Around 460£

If you could change one thing about your search or give someone your biggest piece of advice, what would it be?: By September, a few options became available, so it may not be necessary to overly worry if you haven’t secured a room in advance. It’s also worth asking for help in your country’s Facebook groups to see if anyone is willing to host you. Typically, people from the same country are willing to lend a hand. Personally, I was able to find a place to stay for the first two weeks before my longer-term rental began through this approach.


Books About Latin America Recommended by Latin Americans

This article was written by  and originally appeared on the student-ran GLOCAL Experience blog and was written by GLOCAL student SzuTung Chen. You can view the original article here, and make sure to keep up-to-date with the GLOCAL Experience for a greater insight into life as a GLOCAL student.

Note: The GLOCAL Consortium values our student and alumni communities enormously but it’s important to note that the content of the GLOCAL Experience website and social media accounts do not in any way represent the official view or position of the Consortium or any of the Consortium partner universities.


Latin America is often neglected by the global economy and in politics, but after studying for three months in Bogotá, learning so much about its history, entrepreneurship, capitalism, and sustainability issues, and having first-hand experiences working and interacting with local people, I have to say Latin America is a truly magical place. A land with a tragic history, but also full of hope, passion, and happiness!

I have been struggling to pen down this magical, bitter-sweet experience, so I turned to what we love most in GLOCAL — BOOKS! I will let these amazing Latin American authors tell you about their homes and stories!

Below, I have collected recommended books from my Latin American GLOCAL friends and Los Andes professors to help readers understand more about this amazing region. If you are traveling to Bogota for the third semester, it’s recommended to read some of these books to get yourself prepared. But even if you are not going to Colombia during your third semester, these books will certainly take you there!


Colombian History

Colombia: Fragmented Land, Divided Society

  • Author: Frank Safford and Marco Palacios
  • First Published Year: 2001
  • Recommended by:
    Professor Andrea Lluch (Argentina)

Between Legitimacy and Violence: A History of Colombia, 1875–2002

  • Author: Marco Palacios
  • First Published Year: 2006
  • Recommended by:
    Professor Andrea Lluch (Argentina)

Marijuana Boom: The Rise and Fall of Colombia’s First Drug Paradise

  • Author: Lina Britto
  • First Published Year: 2020
  • Recommended by:
    Professor Xavier Duran (Colombia)


Latin American History, Culture, and Politics

The Economic History of Latin America since Independence

  • Author: Victor Bulmer-Thomas
  • First Published Year: 1995
  • Recommended by:
    Professor Andrea Lluch (Argentina)
    Professor Xavier Duran (Colombia)

Born in Blood and Fire: A Concise History of Latin America

  • Author: John Charles Chasteen
  • First Published Year: 2000
  • Recommended by:
    Professor Andrea Lluch (Argentina)

Latin America: The Allure and Power of an Idea

  • Editor: Mauricio Tenorio-Trillo
  • First Published Year: 2017
  • Recommended by:
    Professor Andrea Lluch (Argentina)
  • “For a discussion of the idea of Latin America (cultural studies)

Problems in Modern Latin American History: Sources and Interpretations

  • Editor: James A. Wood and John Charles Chasteen
  • First Published Year: 2009
  • Recommended by:
    Professor Andrea Lluch (Argentina)

From Silver to Cocaine: Latin American Commodity Chains and the Building of the World Economy, 1500-2000

  • Editors: Steven Topik, Carlos Marichal, Zephyr L. Frank
  • First Published Year: 2006
  • Recommended by:
    Professor Xavier Duran (Colombia)

Andean Cocaine: The Making of a Global Drug

  • Author: Paul Gootenberg
  • First Published Year: 2008
  • Recommended by:
    Professor Xavier Duran (Colombia)

Football in the Americas: FayTbol, Futebol, Soccer

  • Editor: Rory M. Miller
  • First Published Year: 2007
  • Recommended by:
    Professor Xavier Duran (Colombia)

Exile within Exiles: Herbert Daniel, Gay Brazilian Revolutionary

  • Editor: James N. Green
  • First Published Year: 2018
  • Recommended by:
    Professor Andrea Lluch (Argentina)

El hombre que amaba a los perros

  • Author: Leonardo Padura
  • First Published Year: 2009
  • Recommended by:
    GLOCAL V – José Castillo Bermúdez (Guatemala)
  • “It’s a great novel to understand Latin America in a global context in the 20th Century!”

Las venas abiertas de América Latina

  • Author: Eduardo Galeano
  • First Published Year: 1971
  • Recommended by:
    GLOCAL V – Johan Velasco (Colombia)


Novels

El amor en los tiempos del cólera

  • Author: Gabriel García Márquez
  • Country: Colombia
  • First Published Year: 1985
  • Recommended by:
    GLOCAL V – Johan Velasco (Colombia)

Cien años de soledad

  • Author: Gabriel García Márquez
  • Country: Colombia
  • First Published Year: 1967
  • Recommended by:
    GLOCAL V – María Luisa Mészáros Ortiz
    (Costa Rica)
    GLOCAL V – Nuria Peregrin (Cuba)

Memoria de mis putas tristes

  • Author: Gabriel García Márquez
  • Country: Colombia
  • First Published Year: 2004
  • Recommended by:
    GLOCAL VI – Juliana Bastos de Mello (Brazil)

La fiesta del Chivo

  • Author: Mario Vargas Llosa
  • Country: Peru
  • First Published Year: 2000
  • Recommended by:
    GLOCAL V – Johan Velasco (Colombia)
    GLOCAL V – Nuria Peregrin (Cuba)

Como agua para chocolate

  • Author: Laura Esquivel
  • Country: Mexico
  • First Published Year: 1989
  • Recommended by:
    GLOCAL V – Laura Ortiz (Mexico)

Capitães da Areia

  • Author: Jorge Amado
  • First Published Year: 1937
  • Recommended by:
    GLOCAL V – Natasha Briguet (Brazil)

Crecer a golpes

  • Author: Diego Fonseca
  • First Published Year: 2013
  • Recommended by:
    GLOCAL V – José Castillo Bermúdez (Guatemala)
  • “It’s a great compilation of articles.”

Pedro Paramo: A Novel of Mexico

  • Author: Juan Rulfo
  • Country: Mexico
  • First Published Year: 1955
  • Recommended by:
    Professor Andrea Lluch (Argentina)

Rayuela (Hopscotch)

  • Author: Julio Cortázar
  • Country: Argentina
  • First Published Year: 1963
  • Recommended by:
    Professor Andrea Lluch (Argentina) and
    GLOCAL V – Nuria Peregrin (Cuba)

La casa de los espíritus

  • Author: Isabel Allende
  • Country: Chile
  • First Published Year: 1982
  • Recommended by:
    Professor Andrea Lluch (Argentina)

Inés del alma mía

  • Author: Isabel Allende
  • Country: Chile
  • First Published Year: 2006
  • Recommended by:
    GLOCAL V – Laura Ortiz (Mexico)

Ternura

  • Author: Gabriela Mistral
  • Country: Chile
  • First Published Year: 1979
  • Recommended by:
    GLOCAL V – Laura Ortiz (Mexico)

The Kingdom of This World

  • Author: Alejo Carpentier
  • Country: Cuba
  • First Published Year: 1949
  • Recommended by:
    Professor Andrea Lluch (Argentina)
  • “The book is about the Haitian Revolution and Henri Christophe, a former slave who became Haiti’s first king.”


Children's Literature

Memórias da Emília

  • Author: Monteiro Lobato
  • Country: Brazil
  • First Published Year: 1936
  • Recommended by:
    GLOCAL V – Gabriela Varejão (Brazil)


Accommodation in Bogotá, Colombia

This article was written by  and originally appeared on the student-ran GLOCAL Experience blog. You can view the original article here, and make sure to keep up-to-date with the GLOCAL Experience for a greater insight into life as a GLOCAL student.

Note: The GLOCAL Consortium values our student and alumni communities enormously but it’s important to note that the content of the GLOCAL Experience website and social media accounts do not in any way represent the official view or position of the Consortium or any of the Consortium partner universities.


Bogotá is a bustling city with seven million habitants. The city is so large that it may take an hour to go from one point to another. Like all large cities, some areas might be more resident-friendly while some might be more complicated and dangerous. To help you decide on where to stay in Bogotá, GLOCAL V students shared their accommodation experiences around the city and penned their thoughts and tips to help you find your ideal accommodation in Bogotá!

Before we dive into accommodation options, it is important to keep in mind that the GLOCAL office, professors, and staff at the University of Los Andes are EXTREMELY friendly, efficient, and always willing to help. If you are looking for private accommodation on housing websites or Airbnb, remember to send your accommodation options to the GLOCAL professors in advance so that they can tell you whether the neighbourhood is safe.

City Center - CityU

CityU is the student accommodation that the GLOCAL office recommended students stay in due to its proximity to the university. I stayed in a four-person apartment with three other GLOCAL students. Below I will list the pros and cons of staying in CityU.

The biggest advantage of staying in CityU is its location. It took me 3-5 minutes to walk to the university, and since this year we had a 7 a.m. class and a 6 p.m. class on the same day, I could go back to my dorm to take a small nap. The traffic in Bogota is insane. Sometimes it takes half an hour to get an Uber, and then it takes forever to arrive at your destination during peak hours.

Another benefit of staying in CityU is its fantastic facilities. There are three buildings in CityU, and there are study rooms (individual seats and meeting rooms with whiteboards), game and TV rooms (you can borrow video games from the reception or watch a movie), a 24-hour gym, a painting room, a common kitchen, a barbecue area on the 20th floor (with great city view!), and tons of ping-pong and foosball tables. You can also invite friends over to study, have group meetings, cook, or watch movies!

The Amazing View of the University of Los Andes from the 30th Floor Study Room in CityU

Amazing view of the Universidad de Los Andes from the 30th floor study room

 

Barbecue Party in CityU with Great City View

GLOCAL V barbecue party in CityU with a great city view

However, there are also some drawbacks to living in CityU. First, the buildings are located in the city center, and the area is not that safe in the evening (especially the roundabout area close to the Las Aguas TransMilenio station). Some classes are in the evening, so it’s recommended to walk with other classmates and avoid wandering around alone on the streets.

Also, the apartments themselves are not as good as the common areas. The walls are really thin, so I could hear my flatmates opening the doors, cooking, using the microwave, or chatting in the kitchen area. One of my flatmates was also constantly bothered by the noises made by the neighbours upstairs. If you are a light sleeper, the noises can be really troublesome. The kitchen in the four-person apartment is also small. There’s only one electrical induction stove and a tiny fridge for four people, so it was quite inconvenient, but my flatmates and I managed to take turns cooking for all of us — or we would eat out, as restaurants in Bogota are a lot cheaper than in Europe.

This information was provided by SzuTung Chen.


City Center - International Student Housing

There are two main areas that I’d recommend you live in Bogotá, either by the University in Candeleria or up North in a place called Chapinero. Both areas have their positives and negatives. Chapinero has more cafes, bars, and restaurants but is further from the university. I lived near the university so I’ll go over that area first.

I initially lived in an international student house called Villa Verde, it’s very affordable (around €180 a month) and the house has about 12 rooms with students from around the world (mostly French students when I was there). The house is very fun, but the room I was in had no windows so I decided to move. But if you can get one of the other rooms, it’s a good option. The house is also only a 10-minute walk from the university. Below you can find a promotional picture for the boarding house.

Bogota City Center Villa Verde

The promotional flyer for the boarding house Villa Verde

Another similar house is called La Casa de Sol. One of our international classmates stayed there and recommended it. It’s a hostel during holidays, and a house for students (or working Colombians) during the semesters. The organization is called R10, and they have two more houses in La Candelaria. It’s a shared living room, with (mostly) shared kitchens and private rooms. It’s larger, with roughly 30 rooms, and tends to have more parties and social life, but during weekdays it is quiet after 11 p.m. Here is the link to their website to find more information.

After Villa Verde, I stayed in a housing unit called The Spot. I highly recommend this dorm over CityU. The bottom half is a hostel and the top half is apartments. They plan social events on the rooftop area. I paid €390 a month for a studio apartment, but there are cheaper options as well. Another similar option is a place called LivinX. Both have shared study areas and small private gyms, and are within walking distance from the university.

There are a fair amount of nice restaurants in Candeleria, but the neighborhood as a whole isn’t as safe as areas in the north. The main benefit of living here is that it’s close to the school. With the terrible traffic in Bogota, it’s a benefit being able to walk to class.

The area up north that I’d recommend is called Chapinero, and there are two specific neighborhoods within the area that I’d recommend. The first is Chapinero Alto, where there are a lot of cool bars and restaurants. Very close to that is a neighborhood called Rosales, which is a bit quieter and feels safer, but the people who live there are a bit older. These areas are more fun, but be wary that depending on traffic — it can take a while to get to the university. I’d recommend living as close to the main highway (closer to the mountain) as possible. The best way to find places is through Airbnb.

Both areas are nice, but neither is perfect. If you have any other questions feel free to reach out on LinkedIn. And finally, you can use this link to find the bars and restaurants in Bogota I recommend!

This information was provided by Spencer Long.

 

 


City Center - Airbnb

Bogotá is a very busy city, which is why it is so important that one finds accommodation that suits their expectations and offers a safe place to relax from the everyday life of the big city! I found my apartment through students from the previous cohort, which made the choice relatively easy, because they knew what my uni days would look like and could recommend something that was suitable to that lifestyle.

To start with, my apartment was located right in the centre of Bogota, just a 10min walk from UniAndes. This was one of the main reasons I chose this apartment: because I knew I would spend a substantial time at Uni, not only for classes, but also to meet for group work and to make use of the extensive free sports courses.

At the same time, one must mention that the centre of Bogota is not considered the safest, which is why one should not leave home after 8 p.m. (at least not by foot). I personally felt relatively safe during the day, but as soon as it got dark, the streets would get very empty and the general atmosphere did not feel the safest. However, I would not have wanted to change my location due to the proximity to uni and the very local lifestyle.

This information was provided by Ken Goigner.


Chapinero - Airbnb

During my semester in Bogota, I stayed in a wonderful flat in the Chapinero Alto neighbourhood. A GLOCAL friend and I discovered it on Airbnb and rented it together. The flat was in a secure neighbourhood with many trees, convenience stores close by, and a huge supermarket within a 10-minute walk. An Uber took just 13 minutes to get to the university (cost: £2-3.5).

For public transport, we had to walk for 10-12 minutes, and then take the TransMilenio bus, which took about 16 minutes to get to the station in front of the university (cost: £0.6). It was also central to the most popular areas for cafes, bars, restaurants, and nightclubs, within a short Uber ride. The time to the airport was also a plus — just a 20–30-minute drive (cost: £4-6).

We spent around £420 per month in rent. I believe it was an excellent decision for us, since we could easily travel to practically everywhere we wanted to go, the neighbourhood was quite peaceful, we had lots of space, and we could occasionally entertain friends and relatives.

This information was provided by Alejandra Cruz.

Bogota Chapinero accommodation from AirbnbAirbnb accommodation in Chapinero. Photo credit: Airbnb.


Cohort V begins their second year of studies in four different cities

This article was written by  and originally appeared on the student-ran GLOCAL Experience blog. You can view the original article here, and make sure to keep up-to-date with the GLOCAL Experience for a greater insight into life as a GLOCAL student


After a summer well-spent travelling, studying, and working, students from GLOCAL cohort V have separated once more, this time into four different groups, to complete their second and final year of the program. From Kyoto to Bogota, Rotterdam to Göttingen, below, students outline their first impressions of their respective new schools and homes.

Kyoto

The second year of Track D studies started at Kyoto University in October 2022. I was very happy to see my friends after the long summer break. We have had a very productive start so far, sharing our experiences from the summer vacation with each other, with the relaxed atmosphere of Kyoto as our backdrop.

Classes are very challenging. The preparatory reading is around 50-100 pages per course, and there are about five classes, meaning that we read quite a lot every day. The content focuses on Asia and Japan, which was not emphasised as much in Glasgow and Barcelona, and we have many new things to learn as a result. Most courses are not only for GLOCAL students but also for students from other courses. They come from all over the world, mainly from Asian countries, and I expect a diversity of opinions in our classes.

For me, this is my sixth year in Kyoto, but for the other GLOCAL students, it is their first experience. Their interests in everyday life often make me rediscover Japanese society, too. One of my GLOCAL friends surprised me by saying that the Japanese are very quiet. Many new discoveries are waiting for us this year in Kyoto.

– Hideki Yoshikawa


Rotterdam

AT HOME EVERYWHERE – COHORT V’S FIRST DAY IN ROTTERDAM

GLOCALS from track A and E — Global History and Creative Industries — appeared to be the early birds to start the semester at the beginning of September. Even though this shortened the summer holidays, it also gave us the opportunity to take advantage of warm, sunny days in the Netherlands. After the informational meeting in the vast, modern building of Erasmus University and a delicious lunch, we were invited on a walking tour guided by professor Paul Van De Laar.

And guess what? We had to take a water taxi to reach the meeting point. The water taxi is a common transportation mode for Rotterdam but as a group of international students, professor Ben Wubs asked us whether we were afraid of it or if needed any support. But after our summer school experience, where we attended the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra concert on a floating stage via pedal boats, we smiled with the highest confidence level possible. To our surprise, though, the water taxis were speed boats, and the rush of adrenaline was much greater than we expected.

We crossed the river Maas and got off the cab at Kattendrecht in Southern Rotterdam, where we listened to the fascinating history of Rotterdam’s diversity. We also visited a local artist exhibition at Story House Belvedere — here, we stayed for dinner and visual artist Femme Hei cooked us authentic Chinese food.

The chef, who did not hesitate to have an interesting conversation with us, wore a t-shirt that said: “AT HOME EVERYWHERE” — so symbolic, and a much-needed reminder for every GLOCAL.

– Teona Chakvetadze


Göttingen

Welcome to the “village” of the GLOCAL community: Göttingen! Yet, this university town in Germany is not that small and insignificant at all. With 130,000 inhabitants, 30,000 of whom are students, the city lives on a long tradition of knowledge and academia, and is one of the most important university cities in Germany.

The GLOCAL Cohort V Track B and F students experienced this heritage first-hand during their introductory event at the campus mid-October. A city guide showed the students secret corners such as the former university prison and told all kinds of anecdotes about former Nobel Prize winners from Göttingen. The guide also discussed the critical start of the university’s history, which brought wealthy young men to the city for financial reasons who sometimes did not behave in a good manner at all.

The tour was complemented by a visit to the newly opened “Forum Wissen” the next day, a hands-on museum that further illuminates Göttingen’s rich history in the academic sector. The reunion of GLOCALs was very nice and stories from the summer were exchanged over dinner at the “Potato House.”

Now, there is still the calm before the storm, as students wait for the start of exciting courses in the field of development economics and economic history, as well as the start of the master’s thesis. Thanks to the great student-oriented infrastructure in Göttingen, however, it will be possible to focus on the work while also enjoying the golden autumn and the Christmas market season in Göttingen!

– Melanie Thut


Bogotá

SIN MIEDO, FOR BOGOTA IS AN ADVENTURE!

For us students in Track C and G of GLOCAL, the journey of our second year starts in a different continent, at Universidad de los Andes. Located in Bogota, the capital of Colombia, the university allows students to gain hands-on experience through Consultandes (our consultancy projects) and explore the myriad sustainability topics prevalent in Latin America.

Honestly, I was excited but incredibly scared at the start because my Spanish is the weakest among the GLOCALs coming here. Yet, after only a month here, my fear vanished as I became more and more enamoured by the colourful and vibrant atmosphere that is Colombia and the people. Everyone is so incredibly warm, friendly, and even patient with my lacklustre Spanish that I feel safe and welcomed. Truthfully, it reminds me of my home country, Vietnam, where everyone greets each other when stepping into the elevator and lifts our days with a brilliant smile. Furthermore, nature is breathtaking and unforgettable, and we have already planned several trips to Bogota’s stunning mountains and natural parks. Reunited with my friends, we found each other exploring the different sides of Bogota and sharing laughter and joy with field trips and museum visits.

Regarding courses, with four classes and several group projects (teamwork is a must in Universidad de los Andes), we delve deep into Latin American socio-political issues while also bolstering our professional growth. The classes and group work can be taxing at times, but the opportunity to study with local students and the enthusiasm from our amazing teachers help to shape a unique learning experience that I could have never imagined ever to be a part of. I am now here in Bogota, exactly halfway across the earth from my hometown, no longer with fear, but only with deep gratitude for my friends, teachers, and the beautiful people of Colombia.

– Anh Nguyen Chau Cong


Public Speaking 101: One student’s journey to presenting at a 100-person conference

This article was written by  and originally appeared on the student-ran GLOCAL Experience blog. You can view the original article here, and make sure to keep up-to-date with the GLOCAL Experience for a greater insight into life as a GLOCAL student


Bridget and her colleague, Robyn, presenting at the conference

Public speaking is never easy. It can be daunting, intimidating, overwhelming. It is the type of skill that looks, feels, and sounds a little bit different every time you practice it.  This idea simultaneously frightens and intrigues me. As strong as my desire (and fear) to practice and hone the skill of public speaking is, every time I find myself preparing for and giving a presentation, I remember just how challenging it can be. This was no different when I was asked to speak at the 2022 Scottish Women in Sport Conference, representing Actify, the company where I was currently working. I felt the butterflies and sweaty hands start in just seconds after saying yes.

The background – Finding a job

Let’s back-up – how did I get myself into this situation in the first place?

During my second semester of GLOCAL in Barcelona, I began to look for a job that could extend through the summer. I was primarily looking at the Glasgow Career Services database for different opportunities, and I soon stumbled upon Actify, a Glasgow-based social enterprise in the sports and physical activity sector looking to fill a marketing position. I applied and crossed my fingers, and by the end of March, I had started my job remotely with the company. The flexibility of working for a small company combined with an incredibly motivating and trusting group of colleagues created a wonderful working environment for me.

The lead-up – Preparing for the conference

Bridget and her colleague, Robyn

After the semester in Barcelona ended, I moved back to Glasgow for the summer and continued working in a hybrid setting. This is where I was when, in mid-July, my manager asked me and my colleague, Robyn, to present and showcase the Actify Platform at the 2022 Scottish Women in Sport (SWIS) Conference. Neither of us had ever spoken at a conference before and were still fairly new to the company — let the nerves begin! However, it was the trust of our manager and the excitement of a new opportunity that pushed us past our initial fears and hesitations and convinced us to tackle this challenge.

Robyn and I met regularly during the six weeks leading up to the conference. They always say that preparation is key in any presentation, but it took us a long time to feel confident, or even comfortable, with the direction we were taking. We spent time researching, crafting our message, building an engaging presentation, thinking about our delivery — the usual. Finally, things were starting to come together. We had done the preparation; the next step was to fight the nerves.

Show time – The presentation

Bridget and her colleague, Robyn, are all smiles after their successful presentation

Finally! The day we had been waiting for had arrived. The conference was being held at the University of West Scotland in a beautiful modern building, inside a large lecture hall. We were the first presenters of the day and the tension was high — my legs wouldn’t stop bouncing and my hands were clammy. Thankfully, Robyn and I had each other — we reminded one another to breathe, manifest good vibes, and believe that we had this.

The minute the presentation began, the anxiety went away and we relaxed into the same routine that we had practiced many times before. I watched with enjoyment as the audience showed engagement, nodding along with our points, and laughing at the fun GIFs we had included on the slides. Before we knew it, the presentation was over, the questions were answered, and the audience erupted in applause as we walked back to our seats. We gave each other a small high-five as we sat down. We’d done it!

Reflecting – My key take-away

The presentation itself went incredibly well and I am proud of both of us for facing the challenge and our fears. I truly believe that the support we provided to each other and the support we received from the rest of our colleagues allowed us to push past our comfort zone and succeed at the conference. Of course, I also had many GLOCALs cheering me on in the background and congratulating me afterwards. I am incredibly grateful and honored to have had this unique opportunity.

Reflecting upon the experience now, I also find myself thinking a lot about the class presentations we must do for GLOCAL — and there are plenty of those. I am lucky and grateful that English is my native language, and I may not face the same challenges as many of my classmates who are presenting in their second or third language. However, I do know that I am inspired by everyone that I have seen present in the GLOCAL program, and I learn so much every time I listen to them share their ideas in class.

I’ve realized that one of the most important things about improving confidence in public speaking is surrounding yourself with encouraging, motivating, and inspiring people that you can trust to catch you when you fall, and most importantly, lift you up, push you forward, and cheer you on every step of the way.

Bridget poses with an Actify mascot


How to become the next GLOCAL: tips for the application

This article was written by  and originally appeared on the student-ran GLOCAL Experience blog. You can view the original article here, and make sure to keep up-to-date with the GLOCAL Experience for a greater insight into life as a GLOCAL student


When I received the fifth message this week on my social media from the upcoming students asking for tips on applying to GLOCAL, I realised there is a need to sum up the main points as an article for our blog.

So, if you are you thinking of applying to the GLOCAL programme this year and still not sure how to prepare your application documents, you might find these tips helpful!

Happy GLOCAL II cohort in Glasgow after finishing a tough day of group presentation
Photo credits: Mint (Sirada)

1. Read the description of the programme carefully and spend your time researching the programme before applying

By investing your time in the previous research of the programme’s profile, you will kill two birds with one stone. First and foremost, you will have the higher to choose the right programme, which suits your professional and personal interests better.  “Remember, this is a big two-year commitment and you need to make sure it is right for you. This will lower the risk of disappointment and help you understand what you are signing up to.

On the other hand, with proper investigation of the programme you can understand the focus of the programme better. Naturally, when the consortium reads the applications, with a higher probability they will choose those applicants, whose interests coincide with what the programme offers. Look through the list of core subjects, available electives, and its description at all the universities from your preferred pathway. Pay attention to the coordinating departments and profile of the professors at the universities from your pathway. For example, in Barcelona, the department of economics and entrepreneurship co-governs the programme with a particular focus on the different aspects of business management and development (emerging industries, family business, etc.), while in Gottingen many professors specialize in the business history or developmental economics.

2. Try to connect to alumni or current students

In many countries, Erasmus Mundus has an alumni network, supported by the national Erasmus office/EU Delegation. When you’re seeking a piece of advice or not sure, which programme to apply, you might contact alumni. We are insiders and know all the strengths and weaknesses of the programme. Bear in mind that feedback might be subjective, because it is based on personal experience, and it might differ substantially from person to person.

If you decided to contact somebody from previous cohorts, try to formulate your questions precisely. Sometimes I receive either very general questions or too oriented on what I personally put in my cover letter. In such cases I feel, my answer won’t be that useful for a person, because it depends on a personal profile, professional interests, and his or her previous background.

3. Start with your application earlier

Try not to postpone your application until the deadline. Many people apply on the last day, which may cause some technical issues with the website. With the earlier application, you will have more time to double-check the application package, pass your language test, work on your essays and request a reference letter from your professors.

4. Pay attention to the motivational letter

It’s the only one document, where you can actually ‘talk’ to the consortium, explain your motivation and link your experience and career plans to the programme goals. Usually, each programme posts its requirements to the personal statements. For example, on the official GLOCAL website, there are hints and tips on how to apply for the programme. Pay attention to include the mentioned points in your motivational letter. For example, a specific inquiry, posted on the official web-site, is to indicate a potential direction for your thesis. Other general recommendations, I would like to give are:

  • Be precise in your personal statement and smartly use your world limit. There are a plethora of strong applications and the number is growing every year. Thus, you need to put some effort into making your application outstanding.
  • Connect your previous academic and professional experience to the programme’s scope and show how the experience of being GLOCAL will fill the gaps, thus, will facilitate your future career advancement.
  • Make sure your letter is well structured, your argumentation line is well explained and easy to follow.
  • Mention your previous extracurricular activities, such as volunteering and participation in the (international) conferences and projects. Try to link it to the GLOCAL topics, if possible.
  • Try to write in correct English. If you are not a native speaker, proofreading from friends, grammar check from the MS Office or ‘Grammarly’ application might be really helpful.

 5. Double-check and proofread

I didn’t ask for proofreading my GLOCAL application, however, I acknowledge how valuable external feedback might be for improving clarity and cohesiveness of your personal statement. Sometimes, we have been working on our written texts for a long time and convinced that some statements are explained clearly, however, it might not be a case for another person reading your application. External reader can give you hints on where you need to elaborate your thoughts and where you duplicate yourself.

Do your best for the application and, hopefully, you will be a part of our GLOCAL family next year! Good luck with your application!

P.S. A kind reminder: the next deadline for applying is 10th January 2020.

Written by Iryna Bakhcheva


GLOCAL Summer School - Working with Local Civil Society

This article was written by GLOCAL Student Anna Dodd and originally appeared on the student-ran GLOCAL Experience blog. You can view the original article here, and make sure to keep up-to-date with the GLOCAL Experience for a greater insight into life as a GLOCAL student

Engaging with a dynamic panel of guests directly involved in the Velvet Revolution, listening to the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra play an explosive rendition of Ode to Joy from the banks of the river Vltava, wandering through the DOX Centre for Contemporary Art situated in the Holešovice district of Prague… These were just some of the highlights of the intensive, week-long summer school hosted by Charles University, entitled “Twelve Centuries of Creativity: Arts, Business and Civil Society in Prague.”

It’s hard to say which experience from the program was most fulfilling, but we would be remiss not to speak to the incredible opportunity to work directly with local civil society in the Czech Republic.

As part of the curriculum, students were assigned to eight different NGOs in the Czech Republic, and were then tasked with solving a specific issue with the organization. Below, we highlight these projects in more detail.


Amnesty International Czech Republic

Project goal: To develop a new communications strategy that would make volunteering for human rights organization Amnesty International more attractive.

Team members: Fudongmeng, Evelina, Isabel, Alejandra, Annamarie, Mariam, Tabassum, Junyu, May.


Frank Bold

Project goal: Develop a communication and marketing campaign that will help publicize the “community energy” topic among constituents and municipal representatives and motivate mayors to build municipal community energy projects.

Team members: Natasha, Gabriela, Marie, Ling, Llnjie, Nicolas, Manuel, Maryam, Elias, Hideki.


Sue Ryder

Project goal: To create a campaign that will help engage existing and new club members and donors in the institute’s programs and events.

Team members: Bruna, Jose, Alina, Vadim, Mariana, Shams, Melanie, Weizheng.


Pro Pamatky

Project goal: To create a campaign that will help engage existing and new club members and donors in the institute’s programs and events.

Team members: Bruna, Jose, Alina, Vadim, Mariana, Shams, Melanie, Weizheng.


Birdlife

Project goal: To build awareness and engagement in bird parks throughout the Czech Republic.

Team members: Carolina, Nika, Liia, Nguyen Anh, Merle, Sophie, Yongji.


Prague Sounds

Project goal: To develop campaign to promote the festival as a significant cultural event in Prague taking into consideration its recent rebranding efforts.

Team members: Turana, Ana Paola, Harri, Chia Li, Anca, Madhusudanan, Nuria, Chaand, Giullianna, Yichao.


DOX Theatre

Project goal: To create a campaign that will help publicize the work of Dox Center’s residential theatre company Farm in the Cave and specifically their latest artistic / educational project Commander abroad to international audiences.

Team members: Jonathan, Wenzhuo, Teona, Navya, Irina.


DOX Museum

Project goal: To create a campaign that will help publicize the mission and unique spaces and projects of DOX Center to international audiences using art and tourist communication platforms.

Team members: Rhaisa, Yan Yin, Omoyeme, Tilla, Denggaofeng, Anika, Eunseo, Franziska, Lukas, Carlos.