PU students pursuing education at foreign universities fight COVID 19 with sheer courage
Engaging themselves in preparing Indian cuisines, making videos of their daily activities and sending them to University.
As the whole nation is fighting against Coronavirus, students of Parul University pursuing their education at foreign universities put forward a example of sheer courage. The students currently pursuing their semester/ year abroad in International Universities are facing these times with sheer courage and staying positive.
International Relations Cell at Parul University facilitates mobility of students to foreign countries to attend semester or year abroad at partner International Universities. Nearly 77 students are currently pursuing their studies in Germany, Romania, France, Lithuania, Poland, Cyprus, Belgium, Portugal and Russia.
The Cell during their daily meetings find the students understanding the seriousness of the situation and at the same time preparing themselves to deal with it. It is amazing to observe that the students are in lock down situation in each country, where every day in spite of the rising number of cases, without panicking, the students are genuinely engaging themselves in the online sessions being carried out by the Host University.
To stay positive and keep their stress levels under control, the students are engaging themselves in preparing Indian cuisines, making videos of their daily activities and sending them to Parul University. They also get in touch with their parents and planning their weekly discussions with the International Office team at Parul University. They also find common time schedules and plan to attend the online sessions being conducted at Parul University also by their faculties in respective subjects.
Dhruv Sojitra, a student who is currently in LBUS, Romania, as an Erasmus+ student, shares with International Office at PU “Please don’t worry about us, we are fine and engaging ourselves with learning, cooking and are taking enough precautions. Our University is also taking care of us and recently they sent us a box of goodies as Easter wishes”.
Patel Monal, a PhD student currently pursuing her thesis at Mons, Belgium has requested an extension period of stay to complete her study, as the lock down period has affected her practical sessions.
Kishan Kumar Donga, an Architecture student, pursuing thesis at IST, Lisbon, Portugal, while sharing his thoughts, mentions that they never knew how to discuss the Architectural structures via online platforms with their guides, but now they are successfully doing it with online platforms and are in constant touch with their guides in Lisbon and also in PU.
International Relations Cell at PU arranged Weekly online meetings with each group of students in different countries and discussions are held on their academics, health and other areas, in spite of the time zone differences. The officers are also posting their positive messages/ videos on social media platforms to convey to the other students at Parul University, as examples of strength and determination in challenging times.
Staying away from their country, home, University and friends in a totally strange new country, is difficult especially during challenging pandemic times. The students of the university are taking these challenging times to overcome their fears and convert them into their lifelong learning opportunities.
