Number of participants: 15
This month, Aspira’s international students reunited in a focus group to discuss about the different advantages and disadvantages about studying abroad and specifically studying at Aspira University. To start off they talked about their reasons for studying in a foreign country and mentioned topics such as having better chances and a better education in Croatia and Europe than in their home country, others also mentioned experiencing different cultures and making connections as their main reason. As for what they like about living in a foreign country, the students mentioned the aspects of getting to learn different cultures as well as being able to share their own. Simultaneously, for some disadvantages, they mentioned what is always expected: culture shock and language barrier.
The students focused on their reasoning for choosing Croatia and discussed the fact that the country is way cheaper than their own and many others in Europe, some also mentioned the beauty of the country and specially Split, and while a few of them came to Croatia for family reasons they ended up really liking it.
As for their reasoning for choosing Aspira, the students mentioned really liking the study programs and while some students liked their lectures and their lecturers more than others, they all felt an overall satisfaction with all of them. The gastronomy students who were present in the focus group expressed their immense satisfaction with the practical cooking classes and felt that the professors were making a big effort which resulted in them feeling content with what they learned. The tourism and sports students also had a very positive mindset about some courses in specific and they mentioned that it is usually thanks to the professors and the attention and effort they put into their lectures.
To finish off the students discussed a bit about some aspects they would like to improve in the university. They mentioned having a structure that professors should have to follow to keep everything organized and be able to finish every lecture on time. They also talked about maybe implementing an English test for all lecturers who will be teaching in English to avoid any misunderstandings or miscommunications with one another as well as making the lectures clearer and having a better sense of the course material and topics therefore making the courses easier and more enjoyable.
The focus group concentrated in many different opinions from many different students, but no matter how different their experiences have been in Croatia and Aspira they all feel a great fulfilment with their studies and their university as a whole.