NextNormal - WeStudy@Home

Since we started our podcast series in 2020, we've talked to students and student representatives from all over Europe about the present and future of higher education. With this final episode of “NextNormal – WeStudy@Home”, we want to look back and forward, to take stock of the past years, but also to formulate a vision for future higher education...

Since the first episode of "NextNormal", it has become very clear that student wellbeing and mental health are subjects that matter and that should be talked about - especially during this time of uncertainty, isolation and anxiety. Nina Ruijfrok and Antonia Vegt are both studying in The Netherlands and working at ISO, The Dutch National Students' Association - and they proposed to focus on mental health in this "NextNormal" episode, especially from a perspective of international students...

One year of "NextNormal - WeStudy@Home" - many stories and ideas have been shared. For our twelfth episode, we've talked to Damir Solak, Jan Bavlovič and Lukáš Lang from Czech Republic, facilitated by SKRVS, the Student Chamber of the Council of HEIs in Czech Republic...

With the eleventh episode of "NextNormal - WeStudy@Home", we've set a strong thematic focus to our conversation with Ángel Canal Alonso and Francesc Almentros Viladerrams from CREUP, the Public Universities' Students Union in Spain. In addition to insights into their Corona study experience, they provide us with some expertise on the subject of internationalisation and mobility...

For the tenth episode of "NextNormal - WeStudy@Home", we talked to Pegi Pavletić and Karla Hrsak from Croatia. They tell us about the crucial role of support in hard times - Croatia not only being affected by Corona but also hit by earthquakes - and how universities must switch from efficient teaching to good quality teaching...

This ninth episode of "NextNormal - WeStudy@Home" is the first one in 2021, a new year full of question marks, hopes and optimism, not only when it comes to higher education. Facilitated by ESU and ÖH, we had the opportunity to talk to Asja Ahmetovic and Eileen Robiati from Austria. They tell us about jam-packed working and study days, when it is time for teachers to finish early, how to make friends online and how reducing things to the essential can sometimes be just more than enough...

The eighth episode of "NextNormal - WeStudy@Home" is the second one of two episodes featuring Edward De Gabriele and Nicole Galea from KSU (University Students’ Council) in Malta. In this part of the interview, they tell us how an international place like Malta felt during the shutdown, what important role student volunteers played in helping the country handle the crisis and in what way mental health has become a much more prominent issue of debate and concern...

The seventh episode of "NextNormal - WeStudy@Home" is the first one of two episodes featuring Edward De Gabriele and Nicole Galea from KSU (University Students’ Council) in Malta. We learn about the very specific situation and its impact in a small country where most students live with their families and the virus has always felt much closer than in other countries...

In this sixth episode of "NextNormal - WeStudy@Home",  we talk to Vittoria Messina and Lucrezia D'Annunzio from Italy who are also engaged in UdU, Unione degli Universitari. We learn that the difficult situation created challenges, such as staying motivated and focussed when studying at home, but also funny and positive experiences, such as beginning a new study programme without having to move to another city...

In our fifth episode of "NextNormal - WeStudy@Home",  we talk to Miisa Tervala, Clara Garcia Millan and Rico Martikainen, who are all studying in Finland. Even if some of their institutions have already embraced online learning before the shutdown, social distancing and isolation remain problems not yet resolved. They also ask us to make sure that, even in times of crisis, education remains a top priority...