Denniz Asingwire shares the highlights of her Master studies at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences
Greetings from Norway! I arrived in this beautiful country on August 6 2023, and the journey has been so exceptional. It's been a series of new experiences, a diverse mix of cultures, and personal growth.
I wanted to share some highlights of my journey so far as I embark on this exciting chapter of my life at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU).
A Smooth Start with Great Company
I wasn't alone in this adventure. I had the pleasure of travelling with two fantastic colleagues, Jane Lakot and Justine Mawardi. Together, we navigated the initial challenges and excitement of arriving in Norway. Attending most of the orientation activities together helped us settle in quite well.
Making friends from around the globe
The orientation week was a revelation. I had the opportunity to connect with students from all corners of the world: Japan, Mexico, Brazil, the Caribbean to name a few. Hearing their life stories and learning why they chose NMBU for their studies was truly inspiring.
Our interactions didn't stop there. We organized dinners and various activities that have now become a part of our academic support system. These friendships are invaluable as we work towards our academic goals and continually evaluate each other's progress.
Oslo - a city of wonders
Having had a glimpse of Oslo’s amazing scenery on my first day in Norway, it became my priority city to tour and this desire was met when Sondre, a fellow NORPART Programme student at Norwegian University of Life Sciences, hosted us for lunch (my first time of eating tacos) and later led us on a town adventure. The spectacular views left my phone gallery close to full.
Building strong foundations
A three-week introductory course to International Environmental Studies provided insights on the study, assessment and grading systems used. It expounded on courses to be covered in the two programme years.
Under the same course, an excursion to Lillehammer was organized and the presentations by different key players in waste management and environmental sectors exposed me to social and environmental systems of Norway in general and its history.
A social connection was also built with the program leader, Professor Guri Bang and classmates through different activities like mountain hike, internal games in this field trip.
The autumn semester has interesting courses especially Global Food Systems and Food Security, a field I passionately want to pursue for research purpose. I therefore look forward to learning from different professors, course leaders and fellow students.
Stepping into leadership
In addition to social and academic explorations, I utilized the opportunity of being an International Students Union board member as a treasurer for the academic year, 2023/2024. This will boost my leadership and interpersonal skills as well as improve teamwork ability.
