Getting new ideas and meeting wonderful people at Department of Tourism and Hospitality during our Erasmus teacher exchange.
By Birgitta Nelimarkka and Johanna Rajakangas-Tolsa,
Haaga-Helia University of Applied Science, Helsinki, Finland
It was a beautiful, sunny and warm day on the 11th of April when we arrived in Bournemouth. People had warned us for the British weather but for us the city seemed to show its best. The aim of our visit was to get familiar with Bournemouth University, Department of tourism and hospitality through an Erasmus teacher exchange. Our University, Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences in Helsinki, Finland, and Bournemouth University has an Erasmus charter making it possible for students, teachers and other staff to exchange and share experiences and learn from each other.
We have participated in Erasmus exchange together several times in different European Universities in Holland, Norway, Sweden, and also on a previous trip to the UK. And with every visit we get examples of good practices in teaching, students counseling or administration. And every time we meet new, wonderful people to exchange experiences and opinions with.
During our stay in Bournemouth we had lectures for Nutrition students who volunteered to attend the lecture, and those who came you could see were very interested in Finnish eating behavior and especially the subject of obesity in Finland. For master students doing the Food and drink unit we had two lectures in Finnish food from different perspectives with some small examples to taste. And with students doing Food, culture and society unit we were discussing Finnish food culture and did some small finger foods in the kitchen.
Our experience in Bournemouth University was a trip to remember: Your University has a lot to offer for students and your very international atmosphere was inspiring to observe. What we admired was the very detailed course book for the master’s food and drink course. Such a tool for developing and implementing a course would be a great help in everyday teaching situations.
We want to thank you for a wonderful stay in Bournemouth, especially to Dimitrios, Sean and Anne, Hanaa, and Philippa. We hope to see you soon for an exchange visit in Haaga-Helia, Helsinki.
Teaching master students in the Food and drink unit
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