Research, Nature and New Perspectives – My Erasmus+ Stay at UEF
My name is Stefan and I am a master’s student in Interprofessional Health Sciences at the Medical University of Graz, Austria. From April 27th to June 30th, 2026, I had the opportunity to spend two months at the University of Eastern Finland (UEF) in Kuopio as part of the Erasmus+ programme. During my stay, I completed my master’s thesis, which explores the integration of planetary health into radiography education in Austria and Finland. Working at UEF gave me the opportunity to exchange ideas with experienced researchers, gain new perspectives, and further develop my research skills in an international academic environment.
One of the aspects I appreciated most during my stay was the support I received from the very beginning. Whenever I had questions, I always knew who to turn to, and I had access to all the resources I needed for my research. This created an excellent environment for working on my thesis while also giving me the chance to experience everyday life in Finland.
Outside of university, I especially enjoyed Kuopio’s natural surroundings. The lakes and forests became my favourite places to unwind after a day of research and writing and offered a welcome balance to academic work. Experiencing the long daylight hours during late spring and early summer was another highlight of my stay. I also explored other parts of Finland during my stay, including Tahko and Oulu, which gave me an even broader impression of the country. Combined with the kindness and openness of the people I met, these experiences made me feel very much at home during my time in Finland.
Spending a longer period abroad had been something I had wanted to do for a long time, and my Erasmus+ stay at UEF confirmed that it was the right decision. The experience has strengthened my interest in international collaboration and has encouraged me to continue exploring opportunities abroad in the future, whether through research, a PhD, or other professional experiences.
I would like to sincerely thank Tarja Välimäki for helping me organise my Erasmus+ exchange, Maliheh Nekouei Marvi Langari for her support and guidance throughout my stay, and Ari Haaranen for his supervision and valuable advice during my master’s thesis. Their support played an important role in making this exchange such a positive and rewarding experience.
I am grateful for everything I learned during my time at UEF and would gladly recommend an Erasmus+ stay in Kuopio to other students seeking both academic development and the opportunity to experience Finnish nature and culture.
Stefan Aschacher, MSc-student
Interprofessional Health Sciences at the Medical University of Graz, Austria