From road trips to smart textiles, studying abroad is both hard work and hard play

At HAMK, we love seeing our students explore the world and gain new experiences through studying abroad. In this article, you’ll meet Ilona, Jing, and Dorota, and hear all about their amazing adventures in Ireland, Austria, and Scotland.

At HAMK, we encourage our students to go abroad as part of their studies. International experiences can be anything from one week’s intensive course to spending a full semester in a partner university. We also have a special program for short exchanges through our RUN-EU University network. The SAP’s, Short-Advanced Programs, take our students to destinations across Europe to learn and collaborate on hot topics.  

In this article you will get to meet Ilona, Jing and Dorota and learn about their unforgettable international experiences in Ireland, Austria and Scotland. 

Adventure Into Footwear Design in Ireland 

First year fashion design student Ilona Matilainen took part in Short-Advanced Program “Sustainable Footwear Futures” in Limerick, Ireland. The SAP was co-organized by HAMK Häme University of Applied Sciences (Finland), The Technological University of The Shannon in Limerick (Ireland) and The Polytechnic of Cávado and Ave (IPCA) from Portugal. 

The program was built around exploration of innovative footwear concepts combining regenerative textiles, circularity and new technologies. Ilona and her group applied their knowledge and skills by developing their own innovative and sustainable shoe concept. In addition to the face-to-face week in Ireland, students engaged in online lectures and workshops and ended the course with a virtual exhibition in Spatial.   

During the face-to-face week, students from Portugal, Austria, and the Netherlands got together to turn their ideas into reality. Ilona teamed up with Inês from Portugal, and together they built a prototype of the shoe. They loved getting hands-on experience and working in such a welcoming, collaborative space where everyone could share ideas and learn from each other. The fun atmosphere and supportive group helped Ilona make some great new friends.  

While she was in Ireland, Ilona checked out local shops, learned about traditional crafts, visited a museum, and enjoyed the sunny weather, which made her trip even more memorable. She had a great time exploring Limerick—trying out new restaurants and pubs and soaking up the city’s history. Ilona also got the chance to take a quick trip to Dublin.  

Ending the intensive learning experience, the virtual exhibition was a highlight of their collaborative journey, celebrating their achievements. 

Overall, Ilona thoroughly enjoyed her experience—meeting new people, making friends, and trying 3D printing for the first time. The journey was both challenging and rewarding, and after visiting Limerick Schoolf of Art and Desig’s textile and fashion studios, she returned more inspired than ever.

Jing’s Journey into Smart Textiles

Jing’s adventure with smart textiles started in a fun way—just chatting with her teacher over lunch! The idea of mixing technology and fashion sounded really cool, so Jing joined the “Future Exploration” course in the Short-Advanced Program at Vorarlberg University of Applied Sciences. 

What Jing really liked about the program was how everyone worked together from different backgrounds. She enjoyed teaming up with students studying all sorts of things—not just fashion and footwear, but also programming and engineering. This mix of ideas helped her learn a lot of new things and see problems in different ways.

Jing and her teammates worked together to come up with and design a smart bandage that’s super easy for anyone to use. This smart bandage has a built-in cooling and heating system, plus an electronic panel that can help with muscle pain. You can control it easily with a special app on your phone or computer, which shows just how cool it is to mix technology with textiles. By joining this program, Jing learned a lot about working with others and being part of a team. The whole experience really opened her eyes to all the amazing things you can do when you combine fashion and technology, and it inspired her to dream about a future as a fashion designer where both worlds come together. 

Dorota’s Exchange Experience in Scotland 

Dorota has always loved meeting new people, discovering different cultures, and traveling, so she was really excited to do an exchange during her studies. She wanted to try something new and focus on 3D and product design, so she picked Aberdeen. The chance to join Robert Gordon University’s exchange program sounded perfect. Studying in an English-speaking country—and finally getting to visit Scotland—made her choice even easier.

Some of Dorota’s best memories are from road trips around Scotland with friends, taking in all the beautiful scenery. But what really made her time special were her flat mates and other exchange students. She loved seeing how Scottish design students worked on their projects—it taught her a lot of new things and gave her fresh ideas for her own future. 

Dorota was really impressed by how friendly everyone was at the university and around the city. There were lots of fun activities, clubs to join, and chances to try new things in her free time. She especially loved hearing the Scottish accent and getting to know the local sense of humor.  

The Highlands and Scottish beaches were even more beautiful than she expected, and Aberdeen’s beach and city vibe really stuck with her. It was her first time living by the sea, and she truly enjoyed every moment of it.

Whether you join SAP or go on an exchange program, you’ll get the chance to see new places, meet people from different backgrounds, and maybe even pick up a new language. It’s a great way to grow as a person, become more flexible, and make friends all over the world—plus, it can really help you in your future career!