New project sees students supporting students
Imagine that you have come to Gothenburg from a non-European country to study. You don’t know anyone, the cultural differences are huge compared to your home country and it’s dark and cold. In addition, everyday things that were previously taken for granted can suddenly become difficult.
“I learnt the hard way that cash doesn’t work everywhere,” says student Samia Ishaque, originally from Ghana.
REALISING THAT CASH doesn’t work everywhere may seem like a small thing, but it’s just one of the many things Swedes take for granted. As an international student, especially if you come from a country outside Europe, the cultural differences can create stress and mental strain.
To try to overcome this, the study counsellors at the Faculty of Science initiated a student mentoring project. Eva-Lena Axelsson is a study counsellor in molecular biology and the initiator behind the project.
“We inform our international students about a lot of things before they move here, but some questions are difficult for us to anticipate. That’s why we wanted to involve our students in the project, who know what questions might arise.”
FIVE HAND-PICKED students who have already spent a year at the University of Gothenburg thus became mentors for new, international students. One of them is Samia Ishaque, who is currently studying the Master’s programme in Environmental Science. She herself was admitted late and thus missed out on some information at the beginning of her studies, which she found difficult. It was therefore natural for her to volunteer as a mentor for other students.
“What we have tried to convey is the feeling that you are not alone, and that there is always someone who can help you.”
DURING A TOTAL OF TEN meetings, the mentors have talked about everything from how to get an ID card, how public transport works or how to find an extra job to tips on interesting places and apps for students. They have also discussed more study related subjects, such as how to find a topic for the Master’s thesis. Sometimes they talked about a specific topic, and sometimes they were just available for questions. In addition to spreading knowledge about student life in Sweden, the aim of the project has been to create networks between international students.
“Building networks is important, I always say. You never know when you can benefit from your contacts in the future,” says Eva-Lena Axelsson.
Samia Ishaque would definitely recommend her fellow students to be a student mentor in the next round.
“It’s a very interesting project, and we mentors have also learnt new things from each other. We have also learnt to cooperate with students who are studying completely different programmes, which has given us a lot of insights.”
Text & Photo: Camilla Persson
Since 2021, the government has allocated extra funds to higher education institutions in Sweden to work with student health. At the University of Gothenburg, there is the opportunity to apply for funds for special initiatives. The student mentor project for international students was one such initiative that was granted funding for two years, and which began in autumn 2024. The project will now be evaluated for next year.
