AUA Students in Copenhagen on Erasmus+ Exchange Program

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YEREVAN, Armenia — In Spring 2024, two American University of Armenia (AUA) undergraduate students, Kristina Ghahramanyan (BSDS ’25) and Nanor Hovanessian (BAEC ’25), participated in a study abroad program at the University College Copenhagen, in Denmark. This study abroad opportunity was funded by the European Union’s Erasmus+ mobility program, which enables the exchange of students and staff between universities in the European Union and EU-associated countries, including Armenia. 

AUA currently has several partnerships with European universities funded by the Erasmus+ mobility grants. Ghahramanyan and Hovanessian studied abroad under one of these, which the AUA Acopian Center for the Environment manages. 

Below is an article they wrote upon their return from their studies in Denmark.

Our Experience in Denmark and Other Nordic Countries 

By Kristina Ghahramanyan and Nanor Hovanessian 

We studied the program “Emergency and Risk Management,” which aims to equip students with knowledge about preventing and mitigating disasters. As our courses focused on climate education, we had the chance to solidify our existing knowledge and build upon it.

The Nordic approach towards their education system was refreshing for us. For instance, one outstanding feature of our climate change course was that its curriculum included the use of serious games, where we learned about innovative mitigation methods for solving climate change issues by participating in an educational game competition. The course focused on the problems present, especially in vulnerable communities struggling with food insecurity.

Another engaging course revolved around interprofessional collaboration, which strived to solidify the cooperation between different professions in an international context. During the course, we worked with students from diverse backgrounds, including nursing, social work, and risk management. This experience offered a unique perspective on humanitarian aid for people living in environmentally vulnerable communities.

Besides the academic part of the exchange, we also experienced the Danish work environment by interning at the “Copenhagen Risk and Safety Group” company, where we were tasked with increasing awareness of first-aid among laypeople. By collaborating with experts from the U.S. and Denmark, our team helped develop a plan for reaching a wider audience.

The Scandinavian society places great importance on spreading information and raising awareness about climate issues. We made the most out of our experience by attending different events. For example, we participated in a conference, “on climate and democracy,” where we learned about the current European governments’ positive and negative discourse around environmental policies.

Another major discussion during the event was about the significance of climate activism, as it can bring forth actual change on all levels of society. We gained an understanding of the main challenges faced by many activists worldwide and got to hear their personal stories and experiences.

As we became more interested in how climate activists have invoked so much change in European politics, we decided to visit Stockholm, where we learned a lot about Greta Thunberg’s pursuits and accomplishments as an activist. Additionally, we traveled to Oslo to visit the “The Climate House” at the Natural History Museum. It was extremely interesting to experience this interactive exhibition and acquire new knowledge about the impact of newly developing sustainability practices on our current climate change issues.

“I had an unforgettable experience while studying in Copenhagen. The unique learning environment and the extremely comfortable lifestyle have made a big impact on me. The city’s emphasis on quality of life and sustainability made it the perfect place to learn and grow personally. My academic career was enhanced by this experience, which also deepened my awareness for balance and wellbeing in everyday life.” – Kristina Ghahramanyan 

“For me, the experience was fundamental for my academic and personal growth. It was incredibly interesting to see and be a part of the Danish education system and think of productive ways in which it can be applied to our experience.” – Nanor Hovanessian 

Reflecting on our experience of the study abroad program, the lessons learned both outside and inside of the classroom have broadened our perspectives and inspired us to think more deeply about how climate education can be applied to our learning.

The AUA Acopian Center for the Environment, a research center of the American University of Armenia (AUA), promotes the protection and restoration of the natural environment through research, education, and community outreach. The AUA Acopian Center’s focus areas include sustainable natural resource management, biodiversity protection and conservation, greening the built environment, sustainable energy, as well as information technology and the environment. Visit http://ace.aua.am