Why go abroad as an exchange student?, FHNW School of Life Sciences

HLS students who would like to go abroad during their studies benefit from our staff’s international contacts. They motivate students, try to accommodate project and country requests, and initiate BSc and MSc theses at universities or companies abroad. The fact that so many of our students can benefit from a stay abroad is due to the commitment of these dedicated employees.

Prof. Dr. Simone Hemm-Ode is one of them. She is a lecturer in neurotechnology at the HLS and has already arranged many bachelor's and master's theses.

Simone Hemm-Ode was able to gain experience abroad both during and after her studies. She benefited from an exchange program at her former university of applied sciences and did a three-month internship at the hospital in Montpellier, which was a springboard for further international experience. She extended her stay to earn a double diploma and stayed in France (Toulouse) for her master's. Simone has work experience in Germany, France, Switzerland and Sweden and also has contacts in Argentina, the Netherlands and other countries. These experiences abroad have enabled her to establish herself in research and advance her career. She has also greatly improved her language skills in both French and English.

Since 2021, she has been a visiting professor at Linköping University in Sweden. This contact started 15 years ago at a congress and still produces project collaborations, jointly supervised PhD students, and numerous bachelor's and master's theses in Linköping.

International networking is not only relevant for research, says Simone, it also enables participation in joint larger European projects and associated international research worldwide. In addition, through exchange and work outside the everyday environment, one's own horizons are broadened, flexibility is promoted and new friendships are formed.

It is these personal formative experiences and insights that motivate Simone Hemm-Ode to enable her students to spend time abroad. It is important to her that students can gain the same enriching experiences.