Loading

Tag archives for Uppsala University

The Art of Opposition

Leave a comment

There is one thing I have not yet got used to when it comes to Swedish education, the opposition. I have been studying at Uppsala University for a year now and have probably given 3 or 4 oppositions, but I still find it very strange.

Time for the opposition after a student presentation. Photo by: Kristin Follis

An opposition is used as a tool to revise your work by listening to an evaluation given by your classmates. The main idea is that you receive comments back on your work before you hand in a final version of the paper or report.

Not only this, but it also gives you a chance to critically analyze someone else’s work. The opposer offers an evaluation of strong and weak points of the paper and tries to generate discussion among the audience and authors.

Typically this occurs after the author has presented his or her paper. The opposer offers strengths, criticisms, comments, and questions regarding the paper. To do this the paper is evaluated according to content, structure, aim, methods, results, etc…

While this may seem like an easy task (simply giving someone feedback on a paper) it is much more difficult than that. The difficulty is finding the balance between constructive criticisms and harsh comments. The negatives of a paper must be balanced with positives so it doesn’t seem like you are being too cruel.

This balance can be difficult to achieve. The goal is to offer worthwhile comments, while being as nice as possible because you know that someone is coming for you next.

A heated discussion in an opposition. Photo by: Kristin Follis

Maybe the hardest part of the process comes when you are the author being opposed. This involves someone standing in front of you criticizing the very paper you have worked so hard for. At the same time you have to sit and listen calmly while taking in any suggestions. It can be hard to remember that criticisms are helpful. My personal instinct is to argue back and disagree.

This idea of giving an opposition is new to me and I have never experienced it in my previous studies. I can see the benefits of getting feedback from classmates, but making a successful opposition that is useful without being harsh is a difficult thing to do. Not to mention having to sit and listen to, what seems like a ruthless evaluation of the paper you have put so much sweat and tears into, is not a simple thing to do.

My advice, when doing an opposition is to try to offer as many positives to offset the more negative comments. Asking questions as to why they choose to do something is also helpful instead of criticizing.

On the other hand, when receiving an opposition try to remember that this person is not trying to personally attack you, but really just trying to help. And when that doesn’t help just smile and nod!

And if you haven’t mastered the art of opposition yet, here are tips from Högskolan Dalarna to help.

Kristin Follis — Student

June 3, 2011

What IS a Nation?

5 comments

I have tried many times to explain the institution that is a nation to many of my friends or family at home; however, I never seem to truly describe the full essence that incorporates nation life.

My nation in Uppsala, Västgöta

A nation is like a cafe, you can go for coffee and fika; it’s like a restaurant, you can eat food on the cheap (maybe not the same quality, but you can’t argue with cheap food); it’s like a pub, there are cheap drinks, pub food, live bands; its like a club, they have dance floors, DJs, and fancy drinks; it’s student housing, every nation has rooms available to rent (although you have to be a member for 3 semesters on average, unless your very lucky); it’s like a student club, with intramural sports, choirs, photography groups etc…; and lastly it’s a possible job opportunity (although it probably should not be considered a job because while you may work all night, the pay will probably only buy you a few drinks at the end of your shift).

According to the Uppsala University, most of the nations that exist today have been around since the 17th century, each representing a region of Sweden. In the past, each student attending the university would join a nation according to which region they came from.

While it used to be mandatory to join a nation, today it is up to you to choose if you want to join and which nation fits you best.

Maybe one of the best characteristics is that you must be a student to join. And of course, if you have friends visiting from other universities, they can get a guest card and experience nation life first hand

Singing traditional songs at the Ladies Gasque in Västgöta Nation. Photo: Martyna Mikusinska

One of the more traditional customs of nations are the different gasques put on every semester by all nations. A gasque is a formal event including a pre-dinner cocktail, 3 course meal, snaps, wine, an after party and of course many many traditional songs and speeches through the night. They usually have different themes ranging from international students gasque, guys or girls gasque, lucia gasque, lamb’s head gasque etc…

While not every Swedish university has student nations to the same extent as Uppsala and Lund, most universities have sittnings or club nights that are similar.

Every student should join a nation if nothing else then to experience such a historical student culture like nowhere else in world.

 

 

For some further information on Uppsala’s Student Nations check out these websites,

Nations Guide – links to all nations and a calendar of events

Uppsala Student’s Union – Going to a gasque

Uppsala University – Student Unions and Student Nations

 

Kristin Follis — Student

April 1, 2011

Leaving the Homeland… Again

6 comments

I first came to find myself in Sweden to study as an undergraduate student on exchange from my University in Canada. After studying for three and half years in the capital, Ottawa, I was ready for a change in scenery, a new adventure. Sweden turned out to be the perfect place. The campus proved to be the best location to fully experience Swedish student culture with school and social life. The late night campfires by the lake, picnics, walks through the forest and daily fikas had me dreaming it would never end.

Uppsala in winter time. Photo: Razvan Sandru

After studying for six months at Växjö University (now Linnaeus University) I knew I wanted to come back. Luckily for me, my exchange semester was the last of my undergraduate degree, meaning I could apply for a Masters program and return in another 6 short months.

I decided to apply to Uppsala University for their Sustainable Development Program. The lure of a small student town, yet still close to Stockholm sounded like the perfect location. The many stories and long history of Uppsala’s 13 nations intrigued the student in me; cheap food and drinks, fancy gasques, choirs and sports are combined to create an original experience like no other in the world. The environment that surrounds the city and the opportunity to be outdoors also attracted me. And so I was to return, this time to Uppsala.

I left the land of bathtubs, maple syrup, and poutine (french fries with cheese curds and gravy) to return for an adventure in the new world of fikas, meatballs, and glögg.

 

Kristin Follis — Student

March 22, 2011