Exchange Studies Report Autumn Semester 2018 University: LUISS Guido Carlo Country:

What courses did you take? What is your opinion on the educational system compared to at home? Describe any differences when it comes to examinations and pedagogics. How did you experience studying in another language than Swedish? Is there anything a future exchange student should consider?

1. Retail and service experience marketing - A course that included a real-life group case in collaboration with an Italian company and a final exam. Level of education slightly lower than master level in Sweden but time put in was approximately the same.

2. Digital and organizational innovation - Substitute course for IST-course mandatory for the IIM-program. 4 individual cases and a larger case performed in group. No exam.

3. Legal issues in marketing - Level of education and time put in corresponding to level at home university. Mid-term exam and final exam.

4. Machine learning and object driven marketing - Level of education and time put in corresponding to level at home university. One real-life group project creating a google ad for a company. Mid-term exam and final exam.

The education system compared to at home is quite similar with lecture-based education built on either books or articles with occasional seminars, group-projects and cases. The major differences are that some courses require mandatory attendance and that most courses have a mid-term testing the knowledge of approximately half of the course. This together with a final exam and assignments together constitute the whole grade. Moreover, the possibility to reject the grade from the mid-term (and instead do a full final exam) and the final exam (and take a re-exam) is given. The grading system is a scale of 0-30 where 18 is pass. When it comes to the knowledge tested, I perceived the tests as more fact based than at my home university, where specific details where asked instead of theory applied.

My masters program is taught in English so there was no difference studying in Italy. However, my perception is that the level of English is generally lower in Italy than Sweden, which was sometimes challenging.

For future exchange students one thing to know it that the exam period for the autumn-semester is from mid-December to end of January with two opportunities to do the final exams. You will be recommended by LUISS at the introduction to not try to do all of your exam before Christmas (the first round of exam- dates). However, all exchange students I know of took all of them before Christmas with out any problems. It is for sure possible if you plan a bit ahead. Additional information that is not really provided before departure is that all courses you choose before going to LUISS are preliminary and the registration is only for LUISS to estimate the interest and allocate resources. When you get there, you can sign up for as many courses as you like, then try them out for a week and after that make your final decision. There is no time pressure where a first-come-first-severed system is applied, instead you get the courses you want as long as the interest in large enough or the course to run.

Did the host university arrange welcome activities and other social events?

The hos university or the Erasmus network (not sure which) arranged a welcome week with a mix of activities where you got the opportunity to both see the school, get a lot of information and meet other exchange students.

How did you find the service offered at the host university and your home university at the time before and at the start of the semester? What information, and at what time, did the host university provide about the courses and course selection process?

The service offered from both the host university and my home university was good. However, the application process for the exchange studies could be improved, with more clear steps and perhaps no physical hand in of the application. Seems like a waste of resources to do both in the digital era we live in. The acceptance letter from the host university was received in the end of May. Along with that, all documents necessary, such as courses, application process etc., were enclosed. The academic calendar was available before that. The preliminary course selection was carried out in August.

How did you live? How did you find your accommodation? What was your monthly cost for the rent? Where would you recommend students to look for accommodation?

There was an option provided by the host university for accommodation where you registered your interest and got different options based on your preferences. I used this service and rented a room in a shared flat for which I paid 530 € a month. There are also different Facebook-groups (such as the Erasmus group) where you can find accommodation, or other services such as Uniplaces, Spotahome or Airbnb. The University of LUISS have different campuses, Parenzo where mostly law-courses are taught and Romania where most business-courses are taught. Between these campuses there is a shuttle-bus. I would recommend students to live in the areas around these campuses (, , , Salario).

Is the cost of living cheap or expensive in your study country? Was your CSN loan (and, if applicable, scholarship) enough to cover your costs of living?

The cost of living is approximately the same in Italy as in Sweden. CSN loan and the Erasmus-grant was enough to cover my costs of living.

What was the motive for your decision to participate in exchange studies? In what ways have you developed during your exchange semester when it comes to for example academics, language skills, inter cultural competence and own self-awareness?

My motive for participating in exchange studies was foremost because of its attractiveness when applying for jobs. Moreover, the opportunity to go abroad for a semester and experience a new culture, study at a different university and improving language skills is something I find to be an important part of my professional and personal development. This semester has contributed to mentioned factors, and also given me a new perspectives, new experiences and most definitely improved my inter-cultural competence. Please provide potential and future students with any tips considering your host university specifically and exchange studies in general.

I think I have provided potential and future students with all tips I have regarding the host University in the answers above.