– I love being here and studying in Hamar. Personally, I enjoy living in a slightly smaller city than Gdansk. In Hamar, everything feels very close, whether you want to go to the store, go to school, or take part in outdoor activities. The teaching is professional and more relevant to what I want to work with in the future, says Liliana Maksysko.
Starting from the autumn of 2024, the bachelor's programmes in animation and digital art, and game technology and simulation will be offered in English. This gives students like Liliana the opportunity to make the exchange stay permanent.
– This is the first time we can offer exchange students like Liliana this opportunity since these programmes will be international. It is of course very gratifying that she can pursue her dream and study something she would not have access to otherwise, says international advisor at the Game School, Lene Kristin Minge.
Moved to Hamar as an exchange student
Liliana came to Hamar in January this year as an exchange student. The EU's program for education, training, youth, and sports (Erasmus +) opened the door for exchange studies at the Game School, where she was initially to take courses from the bachelor's degree in animation and digital art for six months. In Poland, she studied a bachelor's degree in 3D design and marketing, but she wanted to study something more focused on animation and digital art rather than graphic design.
– Here we have assignments that feel meaningful, whether we solve them individually or in teams. In Hamar I am studying something I am really passionate about and want to work with in the future, says Liliana.
Close-knit academic communities
– I think the fact that the Game School is such a small and close-knit environment is a big advantage. We have exciting academic communities in technology and art that work interdisciplinary to create something together, which is quite unique. In addition, we have a teaching method that allows the lecturers to be close to the students, more than what is probably normal at larger universities both nationally and internationally. As humans, we want to be seen, and I think we achieve something there, says Minge.
She is one of several amongst both students and staff, who have made sure that Liliana has been well received as an exchange student at the Game School.
– My experience is that norwegians are friendly and helpful. I made many friends in a short time, and here in Hamar, there are several activities that make it easy to socialise. I am also part of a WhatsApp group with Erasmus+ students who do things privately, says Liliana.
Minge introduced Liliana to the Buddy program, which, in short, means that a group of students ensures that international students are well received and integrated not only academically but also socially as students.
– My buddy showed me where I was going to live, around the university, and where the classes take place. It was also very helpful that he showed me the small things that are important in everyday life, such as the nearest store and public transportation. I want to point out that I did not feel nervous when I came here, but well prepared thanks to good information from the school beforehand, says Liliana.
– Liliana is positive, open, curious, and eager to learn new things. If there is anything she is wondering about, she doesn’t hesitate to reach out to us, which is a very good quality. We had a close dialogue both before she came here and right after the semester started. It didn't take long before she told me that she had settled in well and asked if it was possible to extend her stay, says Minge.
Two programmes will be in English
Liliana estimates that it only took about two weeks from her arrival in Hamar until she considered making the exchange stay permanent. Initially, she was studying in Gdansk, but the new plan is to apply for a bachelor's degree in animation and digital art before the application deadline on April 15.
Liliana says that the fact that the bachelor's degree in animation and digital art will be in English from the autumn was not decisive for her to stay in Hamar. Most of the teaching has already been in English, and in the long run, she wants to learn Norwegian fluently.
– The language has not been a major barrier since we mostly speak English in the programme. I also want to learn Norwegian, but it will take some time, says Liliana.
– The feedback from the students was positive when we asked what they thought about a change to make the programme entirely and officially in English, and we believe this will have a positive impact on the number of applicants to the programmes, says Minge.
Although Liliana now has to apply for the bachelor's degree, she will continue in her current cohort with her fellow students, which she is very grateful for. She can now look forward to several years as a student at the Game School. After that, she hopes to pursue a career and get a relevant job in the gaming industry here in Norway.
– First, I want to enjoy my time as a student and absorb as much knowledge as I can about game development and animation. Over the next few years, I will spend some time to figure out exactly what I want to work with in the future and what I want to specialise in, says Liliana.