This autumn, BFM is more international than ever
At a time when in many parts of Europe, doors are being pulled tighter, we at BFM try to make the world a better place by opening them. This may sound a bit grand, but I firmly believe that daily cooperation with other nationalities makes strangers familiar and grows the knowledge that deep down we are all quite similar.
At a time when in many parts of Europe, doors are being pulled tighter, we at BFM try to make the world a better place by opening them. This may sound a bit grand, but I firmly believe that daily cooperation with other nationalities makes strangers familiar and grows the knowledge that deep down we are all quite similar. What is different, is exciting and requires further investigation. This is worth doing, of course, if your world is a little bigger than the home turf that needed diligent mowing this rainy summer. I also believe that it is precisely in the context of difference that we can more adequately assess all that we have been given here, or that which we ourselves have contributed towards achieving. And that is not little at all!
If we now add to this Erasmus students, German students from the Macromedia University of Applied Sciences studying here in the autumn semester, Colombian university students and 17 Eurocampus students from 10 European universities participating in the Intercultural Communication programme, this semester we have 225 international students representing a total of 48 countries. This autumn, BFM is more international than ever. A student from India who had studied in Paris began to learn Estonian and wanted to come to study here after seeing the film „Risttuules“ by BFM alumnus Martti Helde. Motives may differ, but today, 29% of the School’s nearly 1100 students study in English, 150 of them international students.
The great world has come to our own doorstep – with a variety of hopes and expectations. Now, it depends on us what kind of relationships and ties they take from here for the future. What will be their Estonia? But also, wether and how they can help us realise our dreams for the future and maintain the viability of Estonian culture in the world. Only navel gazing on our own turf will not lead us into the future.
Katrin Saks