Laura Alzmeter
Study program: Doctoral School of Education
Country: Lebanon
Scholarship:
Period of studies at ELTE: 2021.09.01 - 2025.06.30
"As a future professor, I believe that ELTE will open me doors to Europe, to teaching in universities in Europe, and with my degree topic, I believe I will make a change in the participation of students in the life of Higher Education Institutions."
WHAT STOOD OUT TO YOU ABOUT ELTE?
Before coming to Hungary, I was still in the face of discovering which topic I would like to have as a PhD research, which supervisor can guide me and in which University I could pursue my studies. I started to search for the universities to get to know them and I found myself in front of an article saying that Eötvös Loránd University is one of the best universities in Hungary and specifically in Budapest, in the doctoral school of Education, a program called EDiTE is still persisting among the European universities. The first thing that stood out to me about ELTE is the reputation of the university in Hungary and in Europe.
WHAT MAKES STUDYING AT ELTE SO GREAT?
A lot of things makes studying in ELTE looks so great. ELTE has multiple campuses in Buda and in Pest, and has various opportunities for its students. As a PhD student, ELTE is always present in all the national conferences like the “Országos Neveléstudomany Konférencia” and “DOSZ”. ELTE helps its students in finding their place also outside of Hungary after their studies through Erasmus+ traineeship in several universities in Europe who are in partnership with ELTE, as well as the Karrierközpont that ELTE prepares each year around October to help students find their best career place.
WHAT ARE / WERE YOUR CHALLENGES IN YOUR STUDY PROGRAM?
As a foreigner leaving her country and stepping into the unknown, in a country where the language is different, people are different, culture is different…, everything seems hard at the beginning. On a personal level, this was the most challenging part, adaptation in an unknown place, and the language barrier was one of the first challenges faced in Hungary, sometimes it is a challenge in conferences where the content is in Hungarian and not in English. I remember I got lost once at night around Városliget, google Maps was not working, nobody was understanding me, I felt devastated and it was overwhleming. Then few challenges within the program were faced when the content wasn’t responding to my needs at some point, and I needed more knowledge.
HOW DID YOU OVERCOME THESE CHALLENGES?
The crazy part of me overcoming these challenges is that I started on my first semester to learn the language, to start memorizing locations and I found myself traveling across the country and by now, I have on my record approximately 20 villages and towns in Hungary. I attended DOSZ conferences and a youth forum where I expanded my network, then, I traveled on a summer course representing ELTE to the university of Jyväskylä and currently, I am getting prepared for my own presentation in conferences. I even started volunteering in a Hungarian youth foundation where I was writing articles to empower youth under the scope of career planning, communication and character building. I focused on learning more and more from the people around me and from trainings to reach my goals and my needs. And here I am now also joining the ELTE choir under Arts Ensemble.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE ELTE IN THREE WORDS?
Reputation – Opportunities - Future
HOW DO YOU THINK YOUR DEGREE WILL HELP YOU IN YOUR LIFE AND CAREER?
My Ph.D. topic is about the participation of students in higher education institutions, specifically Hungarian universities and international students. As a future professor, I believe that ELTE will open me doors to Europe, to teaching in universities in Europe, and with my degree topic, I believe I will make a change in the participation of students in the life of Higher Education Institutions.
DO YOU HAVE ANY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE STUDENTS AT ELTE?
- Enjoy each achievement you do in life
- Take opportunities standing in front of you
- Don’t be afraid to shut some doors because better ones are going to be open for you
- Don’t let any challenge stand in front of your dreams and goals
- Don’t be afraid of these challenges, it will be your strength
- Believe in yourself and in your capabilities