Joyce Lisa Muduve, is a fourth-year BBA student at Khazar University, who took part in Erasmus exchange studies. We are sharing her impressions on the exchange semester: My experience at Manisa Celal Bayar University is one of the most beautiful memories I have. I had an opportunity to participate in the study mobility through Erasmus+ exchange in the 2019-2020 autumn semester. As an International student on 100% KUISP Scholarship, I never thought I would seize this opportunity, but hard work and determination paid off. Being a student at Celal Bayar University in Manisa, Turkey was life while heartwarming experience. The service and organisation offered to the ERASMUS students were splendid: including airport pickup service, providing rooms for rent, getting a residency permit, excursions for the students and constant assistance of the international office. The University has qualified professors and my lectures were in English.

The Academic system is the same as Khazar University’s with both midterms and finals, assignments and presentations throughout the semester. I got a chance to spend my time with Turkish and international students. I spent my time with them in a campus and as well as outside and it was awesome! In the campus, we had all the necessary things to enjoy (libraries, restaurants, coffees, a pool, a gym, sports facilities, a food court, shops)! I would really advise other exchange students to live in the campus even if it is a bit far from the centre of the city. It’s always easy to find public transportation to reach the centre and Izmir city.

During my stay at Celal Bayar University, I was amazed by the number of activities organised by the Erasmus Student Network (ESN), through these activities as well as through multiple social events, held at the University, feeling like home and making friends became the order of the day. Moreover, the best and most important experience was the ‘intercultural adventure’ during my stay in Turkey. Through some events that were organised by ESN, I got to visit Cappadocia and Pammukale, where I made both local and foreign friends. I also had other trips to Izmir, Efes, Sirince, Ankara and Istanbul. In addition, I visited the neighboring country Northern Cyprus where I managed to meet a number of Zimbabweans including former high school friends. In Turkey, there are a lot of discounts for students including transportation, museums and food. In general, there is big Turkish hospitality – a custom that is also similar to Azerbaijan.